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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. track — to keep track
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. perch — the fish
  8. march — the month
  9. track — a song
  10. march — music
  11. firm — steady
  12. board — to get on
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. march — the month
  15. board — a committee
  16. track — a path
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. firm — a company
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. firm — decided
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. rush — to hurry

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