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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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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: pass · rule · rush · lie · dip · lean · rock · net

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. lean — to bend
  4. pass — a permit
  5. net — in sport
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. dip — to sink
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. rule — government
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rush — hurry
  13. rule — to rule out
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. net — after costs
  16. rule — a law
  17. rock — music
  18. rock — a stone
  19. lean — thin
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. lie — to recline
  22. net — for catching
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. lean — to rest against

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