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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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. rock — a stone
  5. hand — in cards
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. rest — a break
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. firm — a company
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. hand — help
  12. pass — a permit
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. rest — what's left
  15. firm — steady
  16. rest — what's left
  17. firm — decided
  18. rock — music
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. lean — thin
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. leaves — lets stay

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