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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. There's no middle ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. foot — a measure
  4. cue — a hint
  5. toast — bread
  6. cue — a signal
  7. bank — for money
  8. lean — thin
  9. bank — for money
  10. ground — the earth
  11. pass — a permit
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. suit — clothes
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. cue — for pool
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. ground — crushed
  18. bank — of a river
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. suit — in cards
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. suit — to fit
  23. ground — a position
  24. foot — the bottom

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