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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 not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. wound — an injury
  3. lean — thin
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. lean — to bend
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. can — a tin
  9. staff — employees
  10. can — to be able to
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. staff — a stick
  15. can — a tin
  16. scale — in music
  17. club — for dancing
  18. club — for golf
  19. club — a group
  20. staff — employees
  21. scale — size or range
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. rush — hurry
  24. rush — to hurry

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