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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: roll · rush · fan · band · lie · wave · leaves · key

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. rush — hurry
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. key — for a lock
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. roll — a cake
  9. band — a music group
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. key — in music
  12. roll — a list
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. band — a ring
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. key — the most important part
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. fan — a supporter

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