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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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. bank — for money
  4. scale — in music
  5. suit — clothes
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. key — for a lock
  8. suit — to fit
  9. key — the most important part
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. rest — what's left
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. bank — for money
  14. scale — size or range
  15. lean — thin
  16. rest — a break
  17. suit — in cards
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. lean — to bend
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. key — in music
  23. bank — of a river
  24. rest — what's left

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