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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.

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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: dip · chest · stand · toast · lie · court · fine · racket

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. chest — a box
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. court — of a king
  6. chest — of your body
  7. dip — to sink
  8. toast — bread
  9. fine — high quality
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. lie — to recline
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. stand — to bear
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. fine — all right
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. court — of law
  23. chest — of your body
  24. court — for sport

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