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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: bank · game · wound · content · leaves · plane · wave · coach

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. game — a match
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. bank — for money
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. wound — an injury
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. game — wild animals
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. wound — an injury
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. bank — of a river
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. plane — a tool
  20. bank — for money
  21. content — the amount
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. content — happy
  24. coach — a trainer

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