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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.

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 · perch · mate · wave · bore · mug · object · lie

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. mug — a cup
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bore — to tire
  5. perch — the fish
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. lean — to bend
  8. object — to protest
  9. object — a thing
  10. mate — a partner
  11. mug — a face
  12. lean — thin
  13. bore — to drill
  14. object — an aim
  15. mate — a friend
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. mug — to rob
  19. lie — to recline
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. mate — to breed

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