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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: race · toast · mouse · swing · rash · staff · craft · suit

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  13. David sat on the ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. race — a contest
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. suit — in cards
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. swing — in golf
  7. rash — hasty
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. staff — employees
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. race — humankind
  13. swing — to play on
  14. toast — bread
  15. race — the arms race
  16. craft — a skill
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. staff — employees
  20. suit — clothes
  21. craft — boats
  22. swing — music
  23. suit — to fit
  24. staff — a stick

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