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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: stand · roll · mark · pit · fan · hide · lie · arm

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. pit — a hole
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. roll — a cake
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. roll — a list
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. mark — a grade
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. pit — in a race
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. lie — to recline
  23. stand — to bear
  24. arm — part of the body

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