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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 120 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 · lie · rush · fan · track · tear · plane · racket

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  7. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. lie — to recline
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. plane — a tool
  6. tear — from crying
  7. tear — to rip
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. track — to keep track
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. tear — from crying
  14. track — a path
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. rush — hurry
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. track — a song
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. lie — an untruth

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