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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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. bear — the animal
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. saw — the tool
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. fork — in a road
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. bear — the animal
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. saw — the tool
  24. rush — hurry

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