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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: cell · leaves · rush · charge · face · jam · wave · stick

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. He was locked up in a ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. charge — electricity
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. cell — a phone
  8. charge — a price
  9. face — part of the head
  10. face — to confront
  11. cell — in a prison
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. charge — in control
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. rush — hurry
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. face — to point toward

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