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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: tear · pass · season · rest · club · straw · rush · suit

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  20. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  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. rest — what's left
  2. club — a group
  3. rest — what's left
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. pass — a permit
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. suit — to fit
  8. season — of the year
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. suit — clothes
  12. season — in sport
  13. rest — a break
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. tear — from crying
  18. rush — hurry
  19. tear — from crying
  20. tear — to rip
  21. club — for golf
  22. club — for dancing
  23. pass — to succeed
  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