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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. The water is too ________________.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. mug — a face
  3. mug — to rob
  4. bore — to tire
  5. can — a tin
  6. cold — the Cold War
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. cold — not warm
  9. land — ground
  10. land — to come down
  11. can — a tin
  12. land — a country
  13. bound — certain
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. can — to be able to
  16. suit — in cards
  17. suit — clothes
  18. bound — obliged
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. cold — an illness
  21. bore — to drill
  22. mug — a cup
  23. bound — tied together
  24. suit — to fit

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