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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. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. spring — of water
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. charge — a price
  6. track — a song
  7. track — to keep track
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. spell — letters
  10. deal — to handle
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. charge — electricity
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. spell — magic
  16. track — a path
  17. spell — a short time
  18. charge — in control
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. spring — a coil
  22. spring — the season
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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