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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: racket · lie · roll · bulb · suit · hide · press · arm

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. suit — to fit
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. roll — a cake
  8. press — newspapers
  9. press — a publisher
  10. roll — a list
  11. press — to push
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. suit — clothes
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. bulb — for light
  20. suit — in cards
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. bulb — for light

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