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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. bank — for money
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. saw — the tool
  8. wax — to grow
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. ball — a dance
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. bank — for money
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. pop — to visit
  19. bank — of a river
  20. ball — a great time
  21. pop — music
  22. date — the fruit
  23. pop — soda
  24. date — on the calendar

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