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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.

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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: wave · spell · perch · stand · dip · toast · current · kid

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. dip — to sink
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. kid — child
  7. current — happening now
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. spell — a short time
  15. stand — to bear
  16. spell — magic
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. current — of water
  19. perch — the fish
  20. toast — bread
  21. current — electric
  22. kid — to tease
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. kid — young goat (kid gloves)

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