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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. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. bound — certain
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. stock — goods
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. stock — shares
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. branch — a division
  14. craft — a skill
  15. bound — tied together
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. craft — boats
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. craft — a handicraft

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