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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. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. last — finally
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. mate — a partner
  10. deal — to handle
  11. lean — thin
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. last — final
  21. mate — to breed
  22. last — to go on
  23. mate — a friend
  24. deal — an agreement

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