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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: mouse · lie · plane · lean · stock · march · leaves · fork

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. lie — to recline
  5. march — music
  6. stock — goods
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. fork — in a road
  11. march — the month
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. lean — thin
  15. stock — shares
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. plane — a tool
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. lean — to bend
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. march — the month
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. lean — to rest against

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