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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: lie · cue · coach · object · ground · stand · suit · racket

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. object — to protest
  4. suit — in cards
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. ground — crushed
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. lie — to recline
  11. stand — to bear
  12. suit — to fit
  13. ground — the earth
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. object — an aim
  16. ground — a position
  17. suit — clothes
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. cue — for pool
  20. cue — a hint
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. object — a thing
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. cue — a signal

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