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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 116 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: wake · bay · current · last · stand · wave · leaves · cap

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. last — to go on
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. wake — a trail
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. cap — a lid
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. cap — of ice
  10. stand — to bear
  11. last — final
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. current — of water
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. current — electric
  19. cap — a hat
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. last — finally
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. wave — with your hand

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