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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. lean — to bend
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. net — after costs
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. net — in sport
  9. field — a subject
  10. net — for catching
  11. board — to get on
  12. board — a committee
  13. field — for sport
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. lean — thin
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. field — farmland
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. rush — hurry
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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