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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: bore · mark · bass · rash · ball · rush · wake · vault

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. ball — a great time
  3. rush — hurry
  4. mark — a grade
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. vault — a safe
  10. bore — to drill
  11. mark — a trace
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. ball — a dance
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. bass — low music
  20. bore — to tire
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. wake — a trail
  23. bass — the fish
  24. rash — hasty

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