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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: track · ball · wave · lie · nail · current · perch · ruler

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. ball — a great time
  7. perch — the fish
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. track — a song
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. lie — to recline
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. current — happening now
  15. track — a path
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. ball — a dance
  20. track — to keep track
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. current — electric
  24. wave — with your hand

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