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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.

Make a worksheet

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: jam · mark · wave · lean · current · stick · leaves · staff

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. staff — employees
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. current — electric
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. staff — a stick
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. mark — a grade
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. current — of water
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. lean — thin
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. staff — employees
  21. current — happening now
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. mark — a trace
  24. leaves — to go away

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