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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.

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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: straw · object · deal · rest · temple · jam · rush · spell

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. object — a thing
  3. deal — to handle
  4. rush — hurry
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. object — to protest
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. spell — magic
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. spell — letters
  13. object — an aim
  14. rest — what's left
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. straw — dry grass
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. spell — a short time
  24. rest — a break

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