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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: tube · wave · wake · root · current · mine · bay · fan

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. mine — for digging
  6. root — of a word
  7. current — happening now
  8. wake — a trail
  9. tube — a container
  10. root — of a plant
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. tube — the underground
  14. current — of water
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. root — the cause
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. current — electric

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