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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. mug — a cup
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. current — happening now
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. mug — a face
  11. current — electric
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. bark — to shout
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. object — a thing
  17. current — of water
  18. mug — to rob
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. object — to protest

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