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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: press · fine · foot · ball · stand · leaves · lie · racket

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  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. fine — all right
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. press — a publisher
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. ball — a great time
  7. stand — to bear
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. fine — high quality
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. press — newspapers
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. press — to push
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. foot — a measure
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. ball — a dance
  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