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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 120 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 don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. land — to come down
  5. land — ground
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. track — a song
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. firm — decided
  10. land — a country
  11. track — a path
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. firm — a company
  14. mark — a trace
  15. firm — steady
  16. mark — a grade
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. track — to keep track
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. bark — to shout
  24. bark — of a tree

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