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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. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — the animal
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. rest — what's left
  5. lean — thin
  6. bat — for baseball
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. rest — a break
  16. plane — a tool
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. pass — a permit
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. rest — what's left
  23. bat — in an idiom
  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