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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: deal · rush · suit · rash · bass · patient · march · arm

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. bass — the fish
  3. rush — hurry
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. march — music
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. deal — to handle
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. rash — a series
  13. march — the month
  14. suit — in cards
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. bass — low music
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. suit — to fit
  22. rash — hasty
  23. march — the month
  24. suit — clothes

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