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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: lean · board · leaves · wax · scale · racket · nail · lie

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. lie — to recline
  5. board — a committee
  6. board — to get on
  7. scale — in music
  8. lean — to bend
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. wax — to grow
  20. scale — size or range
  21. lean — thin
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. racket — for tennis

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