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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. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. fine — all right
  4. scale — size or range
  5. mug — a face
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. wind — moving air
  8. mate — a friend
  9. wind — to turn a key
  10. mate — a partner
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. can — a tin
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. can — to be able to
  15. mug — a cup
  16. mate — to breed
  17. rock — a stone
  18. can — a tin
  19. fine — high quality
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. rock — music
  22. scale — in music
  23. mug — to rob
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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