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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: wave · last · fall · foot · hide · rock · current · tube

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  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. wave — with your hand
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. current — happening now
  5. tube — the underground
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. rock — music
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. last — to go on
  12. last — final
  13. last — finally
  14. fall — the season
  15. tube — a container
  16. fall — to drop
  17. current — of water
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. current — electric
  20. rock — a stone
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. foot — a measure
  23. fall — to drop
  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