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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. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. mug — a cup
  3. rest — what's left
  4. lean — to bend
  5. staff — employees
  6. mug — a face
  7. sharp — clever
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. rest — what's left
  10. staff — employees
  11. lie — to recline
  12. kid — child
  13. rush — hurry
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. kid — to tease
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. rest — a break
  21. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  22. mug — to rob
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. staff — a stick

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