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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. hand — in cards
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. march — music
  6. pass — a permit
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. march — the month
  14. hand — help
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. stock — shares
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. march — the month
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. stock — goods
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. calf — a young animal

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