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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: rock · leaves · wave · fall · roll · date · saw · nail

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. saw — the tool
  5. fall — to drop
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. fall — the season
  10. rock — music
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. roll — a list
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. fall — to drop
  16. roll — a cake
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. date — the fruit
  22. saw — the tool
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. date — on the calendar

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