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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. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. squash — the sport
  5. board — to get on
  6. current — happening now
  7. field — farmland
  8. field — for sport
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. wax — to grow
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. board — a committee
  14. deal — to handle
  15. current — electric
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. current — of water
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. field — a subject
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. squash — to crush

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