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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: can · date · rash · mug · ball · suit · staff · track

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. track — a path
  3. rash — hasty
  4. mug — a face
  5. ball — a great time
  6. rash — a series
  7. suit — clothes
  8. staff — employees
  9. suit — to fit
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. staff — a stick
  12. mug — a cup
  13. track — a song
  14. ball — a dance
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. suit — in cards
  17. can — a tin
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. track — to keep track
  20. mug — to rob
  21. staff — employees
  22. date — the fruit
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. can — a tin

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