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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.

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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: suit · leaves · current · fork · wave · rush · season · saw

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. fork — in a road
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. season — of the year
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. rush — hurry
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. season — in sport
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. current — of water
  17. suit — in cards
  18. saw — the tool
  19. suit — clothes
  20. current — happening now
  21. suit — to fit
  22. saw — the tool
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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