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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 120 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. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. lean — to bend
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. row — to paddle
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. bulb — for light
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. staff — employees
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. bulb — for light
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. deal — to handle
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. lean — thin
  21. row — a line
  22. staff — a stick
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. lean — to rest against

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