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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. rash — a series
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. prune — to trim
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. root — of a plant
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. root — of a word
  17. rash — hasty
  18. snap — to click
  19. root — the cause
  20. prune — to trim
  21. game — wild animals
  22. game — a match
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. pass — a permit

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