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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: last · key · can · spring · plane · wave · trunk · leaves

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. spring — the season
  3. last — finally
  4. can — to be able to
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. can — a tin
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. plane — a tool
  9. key — for a lock
  10. last — final
  11. spring — of water
  12. spring — a coil
  13. can — a tin
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. last — to go on
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. key — the most important part
  21. key — in music
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. trunk — 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