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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 120 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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. bank — for money
  3. pitch — completely
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. lean — to bend
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. bank — for money
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. bank — of a river
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. lean — thin
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. rush — hurry
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. safe — out of danger

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