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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 · suit · rash · foot · land · spring · fine · ground

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. rash — a series
  3. suit — in cards
  4. ground — crushed
  5. lie — to recline
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. suit — to fit
  9. ground — a position
  10. rash — hasty
  11. land — to come down
  12. fine — high quality
  13. spring — the season
  14. land — ground
  15. land — a country
  16. fine — all right
  17. ground — the earth
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. spring — a coil
  20. spring — of water
  21. foot — a measure
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. suit — clothes

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