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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: cue · roll · spell · pop · pass · lash · lean · rest

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. rest — a break
  3. pop — to visit
  4. spell — a short time
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. cue — a signal
  7. pass — a permit
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. roll — a cake
  10. pop — soda
  11. lean — thin
  12. roll — a list
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. rest — what's left
  16. spell — letters
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. cue — for pool
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. cue — a hint
  21. rest — what's left
  22. spell — magic
  23. lean — to bend
  24. pop — music

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