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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. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. degree — from a university
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. degree — an amount
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. degree — temperature
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. wake — a trail
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. nail — on a finger

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