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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. bear — the animal
  3. suit — clothes
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. field — a subject
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. bear — the animal
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. suit — to fit
  10. current — happening now
  11. object — an aim
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. field — farmland
  14. object — to protest
  15. current — of water
  16. current — electric
  17. field — for sport
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. suit — in cards
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. saw — the tool
  23. object — a thing
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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