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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: rash · chest · ball · suit · bulb · rule · straw · rock

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  19. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. rule — government
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. rule — to rule out
  5. suit — to fit
  6. suit — clothes
  7. chest — of your body
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. ball — a great time
  11. chest — a box
  12. rock — music
  13. bulb — for light
  14. rock — a stone
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. rash — hasty
  17. rash — a series
  18. straw — dry grass
  19. chest — of your body
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. rule — a law
  23. bulb — for light
  24. suit — in cards

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