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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: swing · rock · pitcher · fine · wave · rush · rash · craft

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. rash — a series
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. craft — boats
  6. swing — in golf
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. rock — a stone
  9. fine — high quality
  10. rock — music
  11. craft — a skill
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. rush — hurry
  17. swing — to play on
  18. fine — all right
  19. rash — hasty
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. wave — with your hand

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