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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 120 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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. pop — soda
  4. key — for a lock
  5. pop — music
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. suit — clothes
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. pound — for dogs
  10. cap — a hat
  11. suit — in cards
  12. suit — to fit
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. pop — to visit
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. current — of water
  17. current — happening now
  18. cap — a lid
  19. pound — a weight
  20. key — the most important part
  21. current — electric
  22. key — in music
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. cap — of ice

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