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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 · scale · staff · hide · court · roll · bank · pound

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. scale — in music
  5. court — of law
  6. bank — for money
  7. staff — a stick
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. roll — a cake
  10. bank — of a river
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. court — for sport
  13. bank — for money
  14. pound — a weight
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. court — of a king
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. scale — size or range
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. staff — employees
  23. lie — to recline
  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