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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: bank · ball · board · current · wake · wave · mine · root

  1. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  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. wake — before a funeral
  2. current — happening now
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. ball — a dance
  7. mine — for digging
  8. bank — of a river
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. current — of water
  11. bank — for money
  12. root — of a word
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. wake — a trail
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. root — the cause
  17. board — to get on
  18. current — electric
  19. bank — for money
  20. ball — a great time
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. board — a committee
  23. root — of a plant
  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