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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.

Make a worksheet

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. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. ball — a dance
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. current — electric
  6. rest — what's left
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. ball — a great time
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. current — happening now
  13. current — of water
  14. rest — what's left
  15. rest — a break
  16. key — the most important part
  17. key — for a lock
  18. board — to get on
  19. key — in music
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. wax — to grow
  23. board — a committee
  24. mine — for digging

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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