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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. cue — a signal
  3. fall — the season
  4. charge — electricity
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. toast — bread
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. rash — a series
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. cue — a hint
  15. charge — a price
  16. bore — to drill
  17. fall — to drop
  18. rash — hasty
  19. fall — to drop
  20. cue — for pool
  21. bore — to tire
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. charge — in control
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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