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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 120 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: stand · lie · net · perch · hand · wave · leaves · coach

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. stand — to bear
  3. hand — in cards
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. net — after costs
  9. hand — help
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. perch — the fish
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. lie — to recline
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. net — in sport
  19. net — for catching
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. leaves — of a tree

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