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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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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: kick · chair · firm · leaves · fine · bear · toast · lean

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. toast — bread
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. bear — the animal
  5. fine — all right
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. kick — in football
  9. lean — thin
  10. chair — a professorship
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. bear — the animal
  15. firm — steady
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. chair — to sit on
  18. lean — to bend
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. fine — high quality
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. firm — a company
  24. chair — a leader

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