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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: mark · net · rash · drill · bound · rush · leaves · key

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. rash — a series
  3. key — in music
  4. bound — obliged
  5. drill — the tool
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. net — in sport
  8. key — the most important part
  9. bound — certain
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. key — for a lock
  13. drill — army training
  14. rush — hurry
  15. net — for catching
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. rash — hasty
  18. drill — a practice
  19. mark — a grade
  20. net — after costs
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. bound — tied together
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. mark — to pay attention

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