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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: land · lean · rash · bank · chip · mark · lie · rush

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bank — of a river
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. mark — a trace
  7. bank — for money
  8. rash — hasty
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. land — to come down
  11. rash — a series
  12. land — a country
  13. land — ground
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. lie — to recline
  16. bank — for money
  17. mark — a grade
  18. lean — thin
  19. lean — to bend
  20. chip — to eat
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. chip — for betting
  24. rush — hurry

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