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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: roll · safe · rush · mug · present · mark · wave · leaves

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. mug — a cup
  6. roll — a list
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. mug — to rob
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. mark — a grade
  12. present — the time now
  13. roll — a cake
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. mark — a trace
  16. mug — a face
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. present — a gift
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. rush — hurry
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. present — there
  24. leaves — of a tree

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