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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. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. wind — to turn a key
  3. board — a committee
  4. wind — moving air
  5. mate — a friend
  6. board — to get on
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rush — hurry
  9. wind — moving air
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. lie — to recline
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. mate — to breed
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. mate — a partner
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. wax — to grow

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