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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: leaves · dip · coach · fine · scale · bass · lean · lie

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. lean — to bend
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. bass — the fish
  8. bass — low music
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. dip — to sink
  11. fine — all right
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. fine — high quality
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. lean — thin
  20. scale — size or range
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. lie — to recline
  24. scale — in music

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