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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: fine · net · stand · deal · lie · sharp · staff · rest

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. sharp — clever
  3. rest — what's left
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. net — for catching
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. lie — to recline
  9. net — in sport
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. rest — what's left
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. rest — a break
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. staff — employees
  17. deal — to handle
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. stand — to bear
  20. fine — all right
  21. net — after costs
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. staff — a stick
  24. staff — employees

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