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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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. stand — to bear
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. track — to keep track
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. saw — the tool
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. net — for catching
  16. track — a song
  17. net — after costs
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. net — in sport
  20. saw — the tool
  21. snap — to click
  22. track — a path
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. rush — hurry

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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