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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 giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. can — a tin
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. lean — to bend
  8. can — to be able to
  9. can — a tin
  10. bore — to tire
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. bore — to drill
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. lean — thin
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. deal — to handle
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. wave — of the sea

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