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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: rest · deal · fine · straw · chip · track · mark · rush

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  4. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. straw — a straw man
  4. straw — dry grass
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. fine — all right
  7. chip — for betting
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. rest — what's left
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. track — to keep track
  14. mark — a trace
  15. rest — a break
  16. chip — to eat
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. track — a song
  19. track — a path
  20. fine — high quality
  21. rush — hurry
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. mark — a grade
  24. deal — to handle

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