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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. firm — steady
  4. spell — a short time
  5. rest — a break
  6. firm — decided
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. foot — a measure
  10. rest — what's left
  11. sharp — clever
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. rash — a series
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. firm — a company
  16. rash — hasty
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. rest — what's left
  20. spell — magic
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. spell — letters

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