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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. rock — music
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. lean — to bend
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. press — to push
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. sharp — clever
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. lie — to recline
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. lean — thin
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. rock — a stone
  23. press — a publisher
  24. press — newspapers

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