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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 120 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
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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: suit · temple · stick · bound · lean · rash · nail · foot

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. foot — a measure
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. suit — clothes
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. rash — a series
  12. rash — hasty
  13. bound — tied together
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. suit — to fit
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. bound — obliged
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. suit — in cards
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. bound — certain
  24. lean — thin

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