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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 120 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: leaves · mark · rest · suit · bore · rush · wake · key

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. key — for a lock
  4. bore — to tire
  5. wake — a trail
  6. suit — clothes
  7. mark — a grade
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. rest — what's left
  10. mark — a trace
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. key — in music
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. suit — in cards
  15. key — the most important part
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. rest — a break
  19. rest — what's left
  20. suit — to fit
  21. bore — to drill
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. rush — hurry
  24. wake — before a funeral

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