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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 120 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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. ball — a great time
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. net — for catching
  5. prune — to trim
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. net — after costs
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. deal — to handle
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. net — in sport
  21. ball — a dance
  22. rush — hurry
  23. prune — to trim
  24. hide — to keep secret

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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