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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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. staff — employees
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. track — a song
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. track — to keep track
  8. staff — a stick
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. roll — a cake
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. roll — a list
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. staff — employees
  19. track — a path
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. coach — a trainer

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