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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.

Make a worksheet

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: jam · bulb · wave · lie · dip · chair · lean · leaves

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. lean — to bend
  5. lie — to recline
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. lean — thin
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. dip — to sink
  13. bulb — for light
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. chair — a leader
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. bulb — for light
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. leaves — to go away

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