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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: fan · lean · deal · bay · chair · arm · scale · mark

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. mark — a grade
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. scale — in music
  5. mark — a trace
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. deal — to handle
  8. chair — a professorship
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. lean — thin
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. chair — a leader
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. scale — size or range
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. lean — to bend
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. fan — a supporter

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