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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: last · jam · cabinet · racket · pit · calf · lie · bound

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. bound — obliged
  4. last — finally
  5. bound — certain
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. pit — a hole
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. last — final
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. lie — to recline
  13. pit — in a race
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. last — to go on
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. bound — tied together
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. cabinet — ministers

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