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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: saw · rest · mark · rash · trunk · fine · current · stick

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. mark — a grade
  4. rash — hasty
  5. saw — the tool
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. current — electric
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. saw — the tool
  10. current — of water
  11. rest — a break
  12. current — happening now
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. fine — all right
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. rash — a series
  21. rest — what's left
  22. mark — a trace
  23. rest — what's left
  24. mark — to pay attention

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