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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. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. rash — hasty
  4. pitch — completely
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. lean — thin
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. suit — clothes
  12. lean — to bend
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bark — to shout
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. suit — in cards
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. rash — a series
  23. suit — to fit
  24. rash — on the skin

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