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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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 · sharp · net · snap · mouse · lie · leaves · wave

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  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. wave — with your hand
  2. sharp — clever
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. lean — to bend
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. net — after costs
  12. net — for catching
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. lie — to recline
  16. net — in sport
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. snap — to click
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. mouse — the animal
  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