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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 · leaves · saw · can · wave · bound · foot · fan

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. can — a tin
  3. foot — a measure
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. mug — a face
  6. can — a tin
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. bound — obliged
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. bound — tied together
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bound — certain
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. mug — a cup
  19. saw — the tool
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. mug — to rob
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. saw — the tool
  24. fan — to cool the air

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