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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: racket · nail · leaves · can · suit · land · lie · bound

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. land — a country
  4. suit — clothes
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. suit — to fit
  10. can — to be able to
  11. lie — to recline
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. bound — certain
  15. bound — obliged
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. can — a tin
  18. land — to come down
  19. bound — tied together
  20. land — ground
  21. can — a tin
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. suit — in cards

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