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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
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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: chest · mark · mine · rush · current · mug · suit · bowl

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  16. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. current — electric
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. current — of water
  5. mark — a grade
  6. current — happening now
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. mark — a trace
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. mine — for digging
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. mug — a face
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. chest — a box
  16. chest — of your body
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. suit — in cards
  19. chest — of your body
  20. rush — hurry
  21. mug — a cup
  22. mug — to rob
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. suit — clothes

Multiple-meaning words list

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

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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