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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: rock · key · fan · suit · lean · wave · prune · leaves

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. rock — music
  3. suit — to fit
  4. prune — to trim
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. suit — clothes
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. key — in music
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. key — the most important part
  17. suit — in cards
  18. lean — to bend
  19. rock — a stone
  20. prune — to trim
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. key — for a lock

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