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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. When are we going to ________________?
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. mark — a trace
  3. mark — a grade
  4. fine — high quality
  5. current — of water
  6. spell — a short time
  7. rash — a series
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. land — a country
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. land — ground
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. current — electric
  16. wake — a trail
  17. current — happening now
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. fine — all right
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. spell — magic
  22. spell — letters
  23. rash — hasty
  24. fine — a penalty

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