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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
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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: object · toast · rush · foot · stem · wave · bore · wound

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  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. object — a thing
  2. toast — bread
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. foot — a measure
  5. bore — to tire
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. wound — an injury
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. rush — hurry
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. wound — an injury
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. bore — to drill
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. object — an aim
  21. stem — to come from
  22. object — to protest
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  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