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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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. fork — in a road
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. board — to get on
  7. row — to paddle
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. row — a line
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. lean — thin
  13. mark — a trace
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. perch — the fish
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. mark — a grade
  22. vault — a safe
  23. lean — to bend
  24. board — a committee

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