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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. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. fall — the season
  7. ball — a dance
  8. chip — for betting
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. suit — to fit
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. chip — to eat
  14. branch — a division
  15. bulb — for light
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. ball — a great time
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fall — to drop
  23. suit — clothes
  24. suit — in cards

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