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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. board — a committee
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. rash — hasty
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. lean — to bend
  7. bound — obliged
  8. foot — a measure
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. march — music
  12. bound — tied together
  13. board — to get on
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. rash — a series
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. lean — thin
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. march — the month
  21. bound — certain
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. rush — hurry
  24. march — the month

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