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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: saw · land · rest · wave · cabinet · safe · spell · roll

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. spell — a short time
  3. saw — the tool
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. spell — magic
  8. land — a country
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. saw — the tool
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. rest — what's left
  14. spell — letters
  15. roll — a list
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. land — ground
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. roll — a cake
  20. rest — what's left
  21. rest — a break
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. land — to come down
  24. safe — out of danger

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