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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. cue — a signal
  3. lean — thin
  4. ground — crushed
  5. suit — clothes
  6. suit — in cards
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. net — for catching
  9. suit — to fit
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. ground — a position
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. net — in sport
  16. ground — the earth
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. cue — a hint
  21. net — after costs
  22. bore — to drill
  23. cue — for pool
  24. bore — to tire

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