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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: can · lean · spell · ground · rock · lash · face · staff

  1. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — crushed
  2. lean — to bend
  3. can — to be able to
  4. ground — the earth
  5. ground — a position
  6. rock — a stone
  7. staff — employees
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. can — a tin
  10. staff — employees
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. spell — magic
  13. can — a tin
  14. rock — music
  15. face — part of the head
  16. face — to confront
  17. lean — thin
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. spell — letters
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. staff — a stick
  23. face — to point toward
  24. spell — a short time

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