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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: rock · deal · swing · straw · jam · rash · bore · fine

  1. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. straw — a straw man
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. rash — a series
  4. rock — a stone
  5. rock — music
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. swing — to play on
  8. swing — in golf
  9. bore — to drill
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. fine — high quality
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. rash — hasty
  17. straw — to clutch at straws
  18. swing — music
  19. fine — all right
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. deal — to handle
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. bore — to tire

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