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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 120 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: rest · lie · leaves · swing · mouse · mark · nail · lean

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. lean — to bend
  3. mark — a grade
  4. rest — what's left
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. swing — in golf
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. rest — a break
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. rest — what's left
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. lean — thin
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. lie — to recline
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. mark — a trace
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. swing — music
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. swing — to play on
  24. mouse — the animal

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