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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
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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: dip · racket · cap · foot · pit · plane · lie · mug

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. cap — a hat
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. mug — a cup
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. mug — to rob
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. cap — of ice
  15. pit — in a race
  16. plane — a tool
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. pit — a hole
  19. dip — to sink
  20. cap — a lid
  21. mug — a face
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. lie — to recline
  24. foot — a measure

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