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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  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. fine — high quality
  2. staff — employees
  3. board — to get on
  4. board — a committee
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. can — a tin
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. can — a tin
  9. bulb — for light
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. staff — employees
  12. bulb — for light
  13. can — to be able to
  14. lie — to recline
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. lean — thin
  18. staff — a stick
  19. snap — to click
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. lean — to bend
  22. fine — all right
  23. bulb — of a plant
  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