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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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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: bank · suit · bowl · rush · firm · toast · hand · key

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. hand — in cards
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. suit — clothes
  7. key — in music
  8. toast — bread
  9. firm — steady
  10. hand — help
  11. bank — for money
  12. suit — to fit
  13. suit — in cards
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. bank — for money
  18. firm — decided
  19. key — the most important part
  20. rush — hurry
  21. key — for a lock
  22. bank — of a river
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. firm — a company

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