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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: mug · fine · rest · plane · mark · rash · bear · key

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. bear — the animal
  4. rest — what's left
  5. key — for a lock
  6. mug — to rob
  7. mug — a face
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. mark — a trace
  10. rash — hasty
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. mark — a grade
  13. key — the most important part
  14. bear — the animal
  15. rash — a series
  16. plane — a tool
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. fine — high quality
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. fine — all right
  21. rest — what's left
  22. key — in music
  23. rest — a break
  24. plane — an aircraft

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