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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. lean — thin
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. plane — a tool
  7. chip — for betting
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. rock — music
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. chair — a professorship
  17. band — a music group
  18. chair — to sit on
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. chip — to eat
  21. band — a ring
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. chair — a leader
  24. lean — to bend

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