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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: foot · press · wave · net · spell · wind · bear · land

  1. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. press — newspapers
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. net — in sport
  5. press — to push
  6. net — for catching
  7. spell — magic
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. net — after costs
  10. wind — moving air
  11. spell — a short time
  12. land — to come down
  13. bear — the animal
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. press — a publisher
  16. foot — a measure
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. land — a country
  19. spell — letters
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. land — ground
  24. bear — the animal

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