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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: charge · leaves · nail · rash · stand · wave · pit · game

  1. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. pit — in a race
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. pit — a hole
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. rash — a series
  10. charge — in control
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. charge — electricity
  14. game — a match
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. charge — a price
  17. rash — hasty
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. stand — to bear
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. leaves — to go away

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