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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: kid · staff · lie · press · safe · racket · lean · fan

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. lean — thin
  4. press — a publisher
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. lean — to bend
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. kid — to tease
  10. staff — employees
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  13. press — newspapers
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. kid — child
  17. staff — employees
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. lie — to recline
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. press — to push
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. staff — a stick

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