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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. rock — music
  3. branch — a division
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bulb — for light
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. bark — to shout
  8. rock — a stone
  9. bulb — for light
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. board — to get on
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. board — a committee

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