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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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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: march · current · cue · spring · suit · rush · key · rest

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. rest — a break
  3. spring — a coil
  4. spring — the season
  5. rest — what's left
  6. current — happening now
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. suit — to fit
  9. key — in music
  10. key — for a lock
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. suit — clothes
  13. key — the most important part
  14. cue — a signal
  15. spring — of water
  16. current — of water
  17. rest — what's left
  18. march — the month
  19. cue — a hint
  20. current — electric
  21. suit — in cards
  22. march — music
  23. cue — for pool
  24. rush — hurry

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