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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
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: foot · kick · lie · drill · bulb · stand · pitcher · jam

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. kick — with a leg
  3. lie — to recline
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. drill — a practice
  12. stand — to bear
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. bulb — for light
  17. kick — in football
  18. drill — army training
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. drill — the tool
  23. foot — a measure
  24. jam — in traffic

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