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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.

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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. bound — certain
  3. suit — in cards
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. deal — to handle
  8. suit — clothes
  9. shower — rain
  10. bound — obliged
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. shower — to wash
  15. march — music
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. march — the month
  18. march — the month
  19. bound — tied together
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. rush — hurry
  22. suit — to fit
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. mouse — the animal

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