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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: stand · charge · wave · kid · wake · fine · roll · leaves

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. charge — a price
  3. fine — all right
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  7. charge — in control
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. charge — electricity
  10. roll — a list
  11. kid — to tease
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. stand — to bear
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. kid — child
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. wake — a trail
  21. fine — high quality
  22. roll — a cake
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. wave — of the sea

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