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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: track · mug · key · fan · rash · chair · rush · snap

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  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. mug — a cup
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. rash — hasty
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. key — the most important part
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. mug — a face
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. key — for a lock
  11. rash — a series
  12. key — in music
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. track — a path
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. snap — to click
  17. track — to keep track
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. mug — to rob
  20. chair — to sit on
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. track — a song
  23. chair — a leader
  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