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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. drill — the tool
  6. kick — a thrill
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. bulb — for light
  11. lean — to bend
  12. drill — a practice
  13. lean — thin
  14. kick — in football
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. branch — a division
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. stand — to bear
  22. drill — army training
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. bulb — for light

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