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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: object · rush · deal · ruler · bulb · pop · wave · rash

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. object — an aim
  3. rash — a series
  4. rush — hurry
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. rash — hasty
  8. object — to protest
  9. object — a thing
  10. bulb — for light
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. pop — soda
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. bulb — for light
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. pop — to visit
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. deal — to handle
  24. pop — music

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