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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 116 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. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. rock — a stone
  4. fall — to drop
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. pop — soda
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. season — of the year
  12. pop — music
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. fall — the season
  17. season — in sport
  18. fall — to drop
  19. rock — music
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. pop — to visit
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. dip — to sink

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