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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  9. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. rush — hurry
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. swing — in golf
  9. chair — a leader
  10. swing — music
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. swing — to play on
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. dip — to sink
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. mug — a face
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. mug — to rob
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. mug — a cup

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