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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: staff · row · suit · mark · toast · game · lean · safe

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. suit — to fit
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. lean — to bend
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. suit — clothes
  9. mark — a trace
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. row — a line
  12. staff — employees
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. game — wild animals
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. staff — employees
  17. mark — a grade
  18. row — to paddle
  19. toast — bread
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. suit — in cards
  22. game — a match
  23. staff — a stick
  24. lean — thin

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