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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: club · board · bowl · leaves · safe · pop · wave · fork

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. pop — to visit
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. club — for golf
  5. fork — in a road
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. pop — soda
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. club — for dancing
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. pop — music
  19. board — a committee
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. board — to get on
  24. club — a group

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