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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: game · rash · can · toast · bank · staff · mouse · rest

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. game — a match
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. rest — what's left
  6. rash — hasty
  7. bank — for money
  8. rash — a series
  9. rest — a break
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. rest — what's left
  12. can — a tin
  13. staff — employees
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. can — to be able to
  17. bank — for money
  18. staff — employees
  19. game — wild animals
  20. toast — bread
  21. bank — of a river
  22. can — a tin
  23. staff — a stick
  24. mouse — the animal

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