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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mug · sharp · spring · rock · toast · wave · mouse · present

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. spring — of water
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. spring — the season
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. present — there
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. rock — a stone
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. mug — to rob
  12. sharp — clever
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. present — a gift
  15. toast — bread
  16. mug — a cup
  17. spring — a coil
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. rock — music
  24. mug — a face

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