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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: branch · lie · stand · jam · pitcher · hide · net · bowl

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. net — in sport
  7. lie — to recline
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. stand — to bear
  15. net — after costs
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. net — for catching
  18. branch — a division
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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