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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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. can — to be able to
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. prune — to trim
  22. stand — to bear
  23. prune — to trim
  24. stand — for spectators

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