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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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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. current — of water
  4. deal — to handle
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. bore — to tire
  10. current — happening now
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. bank — for money
  13. bank — for money
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. bore — to drill
  16. bank — of a river
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. wax — to grow
  19. current — electric
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. rush — hurry
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. lean — thin

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