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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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  17. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. staff — a stick
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. staff — employees
  10. chair — to sit on
  11. staff — employees
  12. bore — to drill
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. lean — to bend
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. chair — a leader
  17. chair — a professorship
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. plane — a tool
  21. rock — a stone
  22. bore — to tire
  23. rock — music
  24. bay — a horse colour

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