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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. suit — in cards
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. bulb — for light
  5. suit — clothes
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. pound — a weight
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. lean — thin
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. suit — to fit
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. net — in sport
  14. net — for catching
  15. staff — a stick
  16. stem — to come from
  17. staff — employees
  18. lean — to bend
  19. pound — for dogs
  20. net — after costs
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. lean — to rest against

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