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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 116 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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. suit — clothes
  3. scale — size or range
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. suit — to fit
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. last — final
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. scale — in music
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. lie — to recline
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. lean — thin
  18. suit — in cards
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. last — to go on
  21. last — finally
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. patient — a sick person

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