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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.

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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: wave · rock · mine · current · nail · fall · pop · fine

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. current — happening now
  4. fine — all right
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. rock — music
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. mine — for digging
  12. pop — soda
  13. fine — high quality
  14. pop — to visit
  15. rock — a stone
  16. current — of water
  17. pop — music
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. current — electric
  22. fall — to drop
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. fall — to drop

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