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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: lie · cabinet · lean · suit · clip · can · root · date

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. can — to be able to
  4. lean — thin
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. suit — to fit
  8. root — of a plant
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. clip — a video
  12. date — the fruit
  13. clip — to cut
  14. can — a tin
  15. suit — in cards
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. root — the cause
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. root — of a word
  21. lie — to recline
  22. clip — for paper
  23. lean — to bend
  24. can — a tin

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