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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. bank — of a river
  3. rest — what's left
  4. drill — army training
  5. drill — the tool
  6. bank — for money
  7. rest — what's left
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. drill — a practice
  10. bound — tied together
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. lean — thin
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. bound — certain
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. wound — an injury
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bank — for money
  19. rest — a break
  20. bound — obliged
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. wound — an injury
  24. lean — to bend

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