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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 am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. bore — to tire
  5. rest — what's left
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. rest — what's left
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. rush — hurry
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. rest — a break
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. bore — to drill
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. pitcher — a jug

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