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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
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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: jam · arm · hide · board · mouse · lean · stand · shower

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. shower — rain
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. lean — to bend
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. stand — to bear
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. board — a committee
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. shower — to wash
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. board — to get on

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