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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: ruler · lean · rush · coach · pit · lie · object · pitcher

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. object — to protest
  3. object — an aim
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. lie — to recline
  6. lean — thin
  7. pit — a hole
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. object — a thing
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. lean — to bend
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. rush — hurry
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. pit — in a race

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