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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.

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: foot · coach · spell · bore · lean · can · rash · rush

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. bore — to drill
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. foot — a measure
  5. rush — hurry
  6. spell — letters
  7. can — to be able to
  8. rash — a series
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. can — a tin
  11. lean — to bend
  12. spell — magic
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. rash — hasty
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. bore — to tire
  18. spell — a short time
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. can — a tin
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. rash — on the skin

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