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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. swing — to play on
  3. track — a path
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. swing — in golf
  6. mug — to rob
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. wake — a trail
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. mug — a face
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. track — to keep track
  15. rock — a stone
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. mug — a cup
  18. rock — music
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. swing — music
  22. track — a song
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. wave — of the sea

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