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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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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: leaves · vault · rock · rest · trunk · toast · stem · wave

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. rock — music
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. rest — a break
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. vault — a safe
  13. rest — what's left
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. stem — to come from
  16. rock — a stone
  17. toast — bread
  18. rest — what's left
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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