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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. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. board — to get on
  5. bulb — for light
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. swing — music
  8. swing — in golf
  9. lean — to bend
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fine — all right
  14. fine — high quality
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. lean — thin
  18. board — a committee
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. swing — to play on
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. fan — to cool the air

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