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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. lean — to bend
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. lean — thin
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. current — of water
  8. current — electric
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. stand — to bear
  16. current — happening now
  17. tube — a container
  18. plane — a tool
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. tube — the underground
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. plane — in geometry

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