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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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. suit — to fit
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. staff — employees
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. lean — to bend
  8. spell — letters
  9. spell — magic
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. perch — the fish
  12. staff — a stick
  13. sharp — clever
  14. suit — in cards
  15. press — newspapers
  16. press — to push
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. wake — a trail
  19. staff — employees
  20. suit — clothes
  21. lean — thin
  22. press — a publisher
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. spell — a short time

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