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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. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. ball — a dance
  8. pop — to visit
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. branch — a division
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. pop — soda
  16. ball — a great time
  17. rush — hurry
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. pop — music

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