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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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: snap · stand · ball · chair · stock · fine · lie · wax

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. ball — a dance
  6. stand — to bear
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. stock — shares
  10. stock — goods
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. snap — to click
  13. chair — a leader
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. lie — to recline
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. fine — all right
  21. fine — high quality
  22. ball — a great time
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. wax — to grow

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