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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: dip · stand · jam · bear · trunk · foot · lie · charge

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bear — the animal
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. dip — to sink
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. charge — a price
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. charge — electricity
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. stand — to bear
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. foot — a measure
  19. charge — in control
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. lie — to recline
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. stand — for spectators

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