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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.

Make a worksheet

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: plane · stand · leaves · wave · bay · sharp · chair · spell

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. spell — a short time
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. spell — magic
  7. chair — a leader
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. plane — a tool
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. chair — to sit on
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. stand — to bear
  18. spell — letters
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. sharp — clever
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. chair — a professorship

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