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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. snap — to click
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. ball — a dance
  9. pop — music
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. bank — of a river
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. pop — to visit
  18. pop — soda
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. bank — for money
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. ball — a great time

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