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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 ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. foot — a measure
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. current — of water
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. last — finally
  10. current — electric
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. lean — thin
  13. current — happening now
  14. last — to go on
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. last — final
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. pitch — completely
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. lean — to bend

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