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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 116 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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  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. suit — in cards
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. hand — help
  4. hand — in cards
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. suit — to fit
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bank — for money
  10. lie — to recline
  11. bulb — for light
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. lean — to bend
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. bank — for money
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. suit — clothes
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bank — of a river
  23. stem — to come from
  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