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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: track · cell · ground · lean · bore · can · bear · arm

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  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. cell — in a prison
  3. ground — the earth
  4. track — to keep track
  5. track — a path
  6. can — a tin
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. ground — a position
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. can — a tin
  11. lean — to bend
  12. track — a song
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. ground — crushed
  15. can — to be able to
  16. cell — in biology
  17. bear — the animal
  18. bore — to drill
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. cell — a phone
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. bear — the animal
  23. bore — to tire
  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