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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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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 · nail · trunk · season · stick · stem · mark · fan

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. mark — a trace
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. lean — to bend
  11. stem — to come from
  12. lean — thin
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. mark — a grade
  17. season — of the year
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. season — in sport
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. nail — for a hammer

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