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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 · bank · fan · key · hide · stand · ball · game

  1. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. stand — to bear
  11. ball — a great time
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. key — the most important part
  15. bank — for money
  16. bank — of a river
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. bank — for money
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. game — wild animals
  21. game — a match
  22. ball — a dance
  23. key — for a lock
  24. key — in music

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