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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: rash · jam · fan · drill · lie · mug · craft · mark

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. mark — a grade
  3. rash — a series
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. drill — the tool
  6. drill — army training
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. craft — a skill
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. mug — a face
  13. rash — hasty
  14. craft — boats
  15. drill — a practice
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. lie — to recline
  21. mug — to rob
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. mug — a cup

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