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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. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. ball — a great time
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. lean — to bend
  6. face — to point toward
  7. mug — a cup
  8. spell — magic
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. face — to confront
  11. staff — employees
  12. mug — to rob
  13. staff — a stick
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. spell — a short time
  16. ball — a dance
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. spell — letters
  19. staff — employees
  20. mug — a face
  21. face — part of the head
  22. rash — hasty
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. rash — a series

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