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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 ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. suit — clothes
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. mate — a partner
  5. lean — to bend
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. lean — thin
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. mate — to breed
  10. roll — a list
  11. suit — in cards
  12. suit — to fit
  13. toast — bread
  14. mate — a friend
  15. rush — hurry
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. roll — a cake
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. prune — to trim
  23. prune — to trim
  24. rush — to hurry

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