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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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: chip · tear · temple · rock · rash · pop · board · lean

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  7. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. lean — to bend
  3. rock — a stone
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. chip — to eat
  6. tear — from crying
  7. tear — to rip
  8. pop — to visit
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. rock — music
  11. chip — for betting
  12. tear — from crying
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. board — to get on
  18. pop — music
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. rash — hasty
  21. board — a committee
  22. pop — soda
  23. rash — a series
  24. lean — thin

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