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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. sharp — clever
  4. lean — to bend
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — a tin
  7. rash — a series
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. lean — thin
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. rest — what's left
  14. rest — what's left
  15. bore — to tire
  16. rock — music
  17. bore — to drill
  18. dip — to sink
  19. rash — hasty
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. rest — a break
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. rock — a stone
  24. can — to be able to

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