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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 ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. ground — a position
  4. lean — to bend
  5. rock — music
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. ground — crushed
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. saw — the tool
  13. ball — a great time
  14. lean — thin
  15. saw — the tool
  16. rock — a stone
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. ball — a dance
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. leaves — to go away

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