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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: key · ball · stick · wave · leaves · rock · net · prune

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. prune — to trim
  4. net — in sport
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. prune — to trim
  8. rock — a stone
  9. net — for catching
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. ball — a dance
  12. key — in music
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. ball — a great time
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. key — the most important part
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. key — for a lock
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. net — after costs
  24. rock — music

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