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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. rock — a stone
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bound — obliged
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. craft — a skill
  8. stem — to come from
  9. craft — boats
  10. lean — thin
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. rock — music
  13. bound — tied together
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. rush — hurry
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. lean — to bend
  22. bound — certain
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. trunk — of a car

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