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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 116 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: cabinet · racket · lie · track · plane · ball · kick · root

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. ball — a dance
  3. track — to keep track
  4. track — a path
  5. ball — a great time
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. root — of a plant
  9. track — a song
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. root — of a word
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. plane — a tool
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. root — the cause
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. kick — in football

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