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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 116 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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. firm — decided
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. firm — steady
  5. stand — to bear
  6. mine — for digging
  7. firm — a company
  8. fine — all right
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. branch — a division
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. fine — high quality
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. fork — in a road

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