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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: kick · track · jam · scale · wave · lean · leaves · mug

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. mug — to rob
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. lean — thin
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. mug — a face
  10. scale — in music
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. track — a path
  16. lean — to bend
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. mug — a cup
  19. scale — size or range
  20. kick — in football
  21. track — to keep track
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. wave — with your hand

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