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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. suit — clothes
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rock — a stone
  5. suit — to fit
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. pitch — completely
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. suit — in cards
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. file — a line of people
  12. rush — hurry
  13. rock — music
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. file — a document
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. file — a tool
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. lean — thin
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. jam — a tight spot

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