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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.

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: wave · dip · scale · saw · row · track · ball · snap

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. ball — a dance
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. row — to paddle
  5. scale — size or range
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. row — a line
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. scale — in music
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. track — a path
  12. ball — a great time
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. saw — the tool
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. track — a song
  19. track — to keep track
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. saw — the tool
  22. snap — to click
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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