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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: foot · ground · fall · safe · bark · charge · wave · wake

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. ground — the earth
  5. charge — a price
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. ground — crushed
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. wake — a trail
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. ground — a position
  14. fall — to drop
  15. charge — electricity
  16. fall — the season
  17. foot — a measure
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. charge — in control
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. fall — to drop
  24. bark — to shout

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