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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. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  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. staff — a stick
  2. staff — employees
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. staff — employees
  8. snap — to click
  9. stock — goods
  10. lean — to bend
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. stock — shares
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. foot — a measure
  23. fan — a supporter
  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