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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: lie · racket · content · ground · chip · key · rush · stem

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. ground — the earth
  5. chip — to eat
  6. lie — to recline
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. rush — hurry
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. content — happy
  13. key — for a lock
  14. content — the amount
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. ground — crushed
  19. ground — a position
  20. key — the most important part
  21. chip — for betting
  22. key — in music
  23. stem — to come from
  24. lie — an untruth

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