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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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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: lie · mouse · foot · sharp · can · leaves · rest · nail

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. rest — what's left
  3. can — a tin
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. can — to be able to
  8. rest — what's left
  9. foot — a measure
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. rest — a break
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. lie — to recline
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. sharp — clever
  24. can — a tin

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