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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
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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: suit · board · pit · swing · lie · fan · arm · stock

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. board — to get on
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. suit — to fit
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. pit — in a race
  9. swing — music
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. swing — to play on
  13. suit — in cards
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. suit — clothes
  18. stock — goods
  19. board — a committee
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. swing — in golf
  22. stock — shares
  23. lie — to recline
  24. pit — a hole

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