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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. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. lean — thin
  3. toast — bread
  4. chip — to eat
  5. rock — a stone
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. staff — a stick
  10. lean — to bend
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. rest — what's left
  13. staff — employees
  14. rest — a break
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. rock — music
  17. pop — soda
  18. chip — for betting
  19. pop — music
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. staff — employees
  22. rest — what's left
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. pop — to visit

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