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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: lean · wave · trunk · pass · roll · lie · rock · pitcher

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. roll — a cake
  4. roll — a list
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. lean — thin
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. lean — to bend
  20. lie — to recline
  21. rock — a stone
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. rock — music
  24. pass — a permit

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