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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 124 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 ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. toast — bread
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. root — the cause
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. lie — to recline
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. root — of a plant
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. root — of a word
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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