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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: roll · saw · fan · staff · foot · lean · cue · mouse

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. lean — thin
  6. staff — employees
  7. lean — to bend
  8. cue — a signal
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. foot — a measure
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. saw — the tool
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. cue — for pool
  16. saw — the tool
  17. cue — a hint
  18. staff — employees
  19. roll — a cake
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. roll — a list
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. mouse — the animal

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