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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. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — to be able to
  4. firm — a company
  5. lean — to bend
  6. press — a publisher
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. press — to push
  13. firm — steady
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. pit — in a race
  16. foot — a measure
  17. firm — decided
  18. press — newspapers
  19. lean — thin
  20. pit — a hole
  21. plane — a tool
  22. can — a tin
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. lean — to rest against

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