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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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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. wake — a trail
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. land — a country
  7. rock — music
  8. root — of a plant
  9. root — the cause
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. root — of a word
  16. bank — of a river
  17. rush — hurry
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. bank — for money
  20. land — to come down
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. bank — for money
  24. land — ground

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