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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: chip · lie · field · face · ruler · foot · leaves · rash

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. face — part of the head
  8. rash — hasty
  9. field — a subject
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. face — to confront
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. foot — a measure
  16. chip — for betting
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. face — to point toward
  19. field — farmland
  20. field — for sport
  21. rash — a series
  22. chip — to eat
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. foot — part of the body

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