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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: rush · hide · rock · rash · toast · mate · fan · bound

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. bound — tied together
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. rush — hurry
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. bound — certain
  9. mate — a friend
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. toast — bread
  12. bound — obliged
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. rock — a stone
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. rash — hasty
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. mate — a partner
  19. rock — music
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. mate — to breed
  24. toast — the most admired

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com