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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 120 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. staff — a stick
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. kick — in football
  5. can — a tin
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. can — to be able to
  8. can — a tin
  9. staff — employees
  10. net — after costs
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. stand — to bear
  14. staff — employees
  15. net — for catching
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. net — in sport
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. pitch — completely
  23. foot — a measure
  24. lie — to recline

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