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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: lean · deal · stick · saw · foot · pass

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. deal — to handle
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. saw — the tool
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. foot — a measure
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. pass — a permit
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. saw — the tool
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. lean — to bend

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