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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. lean — to bend
  4. squash — to crush
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. squash — the sport
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. bound — tied together
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. bound — certain
  12. lean — thin
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. bound — obliged
  16. bulb — for light
  17. track — a path
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. bulb — for light
  20. stand — to bear
  21. track — a song
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. track — to keep track
  24. stand — on your feet

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