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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.

Make a worksheet

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: lie · content · pass · net · bound · chair · staff · deal

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. lie — to recline
  4. bound — certain
  5. bound — tied together
  6. net — in sport
  7. content — happy
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. staff — a stick
  10. chair — a professorship
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. staff — employees
  13. chair — a leader
  14. net — after costs
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. bound — obliged
  17. staff — employees
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. content — the amount
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. pass — a permit
  22. deal — to handle
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. chair — to sit on

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