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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
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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: charge · rash · rest · rock · lash · toast · craft · mine

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. charge — electricity
  3. rock — music
  4. rest — what's left
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. charge — a price
  10. craft — a skill
  11. rock — a stone
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. rest — what's left
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. craft — boats
  17. mine — for digging
  18. rest — a break
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. toast — bread
  21. charge — in control
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. rash — hasty
  24. craft — a handicraft

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