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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: can · lie · toast · wound · pass · leaves · arm · pound

  1. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — to hit hard
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. lie — to recline
  6. pass — a permit
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. wound — an injury
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. wound — an injury
  13. pound — for dogs
  14. toast — bread
  15. can — to be able to
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. can — a tin
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. pound — a weight
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. can — a tin

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