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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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. charge — in control
  3. fall — the season
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. fall — to drop
  6. track — to keep track
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. foot — a measure
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. charge — a price
  11. track — a song
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. fall — to drop
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. charge — electricity
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. last — to go on
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. track — a path
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. last — finally
  24. last — final

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