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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
468
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: sharp · rash · chair · leaves · mug · mouse · mark · wound

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. rash — hasty
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. rash — a series
  11. mug — a cup
  12. mug — a face
  13. wound — an injury
  14. chair — to sit on
  15. sharp — clever
  16. wound — an injury
  17. chair — a professorship
  18. mark — a trace
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. chair — a leader
  24. mug — to rob

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