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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: net · ruler · leaves · roll · firm · lean · current · suit

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. net — in sport
  8. lean — thin
  9. firm — steady
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. suit — clothes
  13. net — for catching
  14. current — happening now
  15. roll — a cake
  16. firm — decided
  17. current — of water
  18. firm — a company
  19. lean — to bend
  20. current — electric
  21. net — after costs
  22. suit — in cards
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. roll — a list

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