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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: lie · board · stand · rash · capital · kick · court · patient

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. lie — to recline
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. stand — to bear
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. capital — money
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. kick — with a leg
  9. rash — a series
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. capital — a city
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. rash — hasty
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. court — of law
  17. board — a committee
  18. court — of a king
  19. kick — in football
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. court — for sport
  23. board — to get on
  24. capital — a big letter

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