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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. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. vault — a safe
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. staff — a stick
  12. rush — hurry
  13. scale — in music
  14. perch — the fish
  15. current — electric
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. scale — size or range
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. staff — employees
  21. lean — to bend
  22. current — happening now
  23. staff — employees
  24. current — of water

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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