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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. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. saw — the tool
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. object — an aim
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. saw — the tool
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. club — a group
  12. club — for dancing
  13. can — a tin
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. sharp — clever
  22. club — for golf
  23. object — to protest
  24. object — a thing

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