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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.

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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 · land · tube · pit · bay · net · arm · cue

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — to recline
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. tube — the underground
  5. tube — a container
  6. pit — in a race
  7. cue — a signal
  8. land — ground
  9. cue — a hint
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. net — for catching
  12. net — in sport
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. land — to come down
  16. land — a country
  17. net — after costs
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. pit — a hole
  21. cue — for pool
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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