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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  22. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. plane — a tool
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. bat — for baseball
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. charge — in control
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. bulb — for light
  11. fine — all right
  12. lean — to bend
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. charge — electricity
  16. lean — thin
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. rush — hurry
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. charge — a price
  21. bat — the animal
  22. bat — in an idiom
  23. fine — high quality
  24. bulb — for light

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