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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 120 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. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. can — to be able to
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. can — a tin
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. stock — goods
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. wake — a trail
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. can — a tin
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. rock — music
  18. rock — a stone
  19. last — to go on
  20. stock — shares
  21. last — final
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. leaves — lets stay

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