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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. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. object — an aim
  3. staff — employees
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. key — in music
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. object — a thing
  8. spell — letters
  9. key — for a lock
  10. spell — a short time
  11. squash — to crush
  12. staff — a stick
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. object — to protest
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. staff — employees
  20. key — the most important part
  21. perch — the fish
  22. spell — magic
  23. squash — the sport
  24. pound — a weight

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