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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: lie · suit · rash · pitcher · can · rush · rock · scale

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. can — to be able to
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. rash — a series
  5. suit — in cards
  6. rock — music
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. scale — in music
  9. scale — size or range
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. lie — to recline
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. rash — hasty
  17. suit — clothes
  18. can — a tin
  19. suit — to fit
  20. rock — a stone
  21. can — a tin
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. scale — for weighing

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