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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.

Make a worksheet

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: rash · mug · sharp · rest · rush · key · racket · kid

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. rest — a break
  3. kid — to tease
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. rest — what's left
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. rush — hurry
  8. kid — child
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. key — for a lock
  11. rash — a series
  12. sharp — clever
  13. mug — to rob
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. mug — a cup
  16. rest — what's left
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. key — in music
  19. mug — a face
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. rash — hasty
  24. key — the most important part

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