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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: arm · pitch · leaves · bank · band · wake · mug · wave

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. wake — a trail
  3. bank — for money
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. mug — to rob
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. band — a ring
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. pitch — completely
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. band — a music group
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. bank — for money
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. mug — a cup
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. bank — of a river
  23. mug — a face
  24. pitch — a sports field

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