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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 took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. pitch — completely
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. last — to go on
  18. last — final
  19. sharp — clever
  20. last — finally
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. sharp — exactly

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