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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 do anything ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. rash — a series
  4. lean — to bend
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. prune — to trim
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. prune — to trim
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. lean — thin
  21. bear — the animal
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bear — the animal
  24. nail — on a finger

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