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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 116 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: wound · game · leaves · rock · coach · lash · bore · lean

  1. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. bore — to drill
  4. lean — to bend
  5. rock — a stone
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. bore — to tire
  13. game — a match
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. game — wild animals
  18. lean — thin
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. rock — music
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. wound — an injury
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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