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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 116 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: board · rock · lash · lie · saw · key · lean · staff

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. staff — employees
  3. lean — to bend
  4. staff — a stick
  5. saw — the tool
  6. key — for a lock
  7. key — the most important part
  8. board — to get on
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. lean — thin
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. saw — the tool
  14. rock — music
  15. rock — a stone
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. board — a committee
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. staff — employees
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. lie — to recline

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