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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: stand · roll · clip · prune · wave · object · ball · squash

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  11. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. roll — a list
  6. squash — to crush
  7. object — an aim
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. stand — to bear
  10. clip — to cut
  11. clip — a video
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. clip — for paper
  15. prune — to trim
  16. ball — a dance
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. roll — a cake
  19. prune — to trim
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. object — to protest
  22. object — a thing
  23. ball — a great time
  24. squash — the sport

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