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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 120 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: object · racket · rule · rash · sharp · mug · pitch · cabinet

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. sharp — clever
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. object — to protest
  7. rule — a law
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. rash — hasty
  10. mug — a face
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. pitch — completely
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. rule — to rule out
  17. object — an aim
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. mug — a cup
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. object — a thing
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. mug — to rob
  24. rule — government

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