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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 116 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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. rash — a series
  3. bear — the animal
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. can — a tin
  7. bear — the animal
  8. hand — in cards
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. suit — to fit
  11. rash — hasty
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. last — finally
  14. can — to be able to
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. hand — help
  19. suit — in cards
  20. last — to go on
  21. last — final
  22. can — a tin
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. suit — clothes

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