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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 120 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. spring — the season
  3. spring — of water
  4. deal — to handle
  5. bear — the animal
  6. mug — a cup
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. lean — thin
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. bear — the animal
  14. mug — to rob
  15. mug — a face
  16. cue — for pool
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. spring — a coil
  19. lean — to bend
  20. cue — a signal
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. cue — a hint
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. bear — to put up with

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