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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'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. row — a line
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. current — of water
  7. saw — the tool
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. saw — the tool
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. firm — decided
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. wax — to grow
  14. firm — a company
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. row — to paddle
  17. current — electric
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. current — happening now
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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