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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: lie · staff · charge · press · bound · wake · ball · suit

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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. press — a publisher
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. bound — certain
  6. ball — a great time
  7. bound — tied together
  8. staff — employees
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. charge — in control
  11. suit — to fit
  12. press — to push
  13. charge — electricity
  14. ball — a dance
  15. wake — a trail
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. staff — a stick
  18. suit — in cards
  19. charge — a price
  20. bound — obliged
  21. suit — clothes
  22. lie — to recline
  23. press — newspapers
  24. staff — employees

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