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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: stand · net · suit · pass · branch · lie · wave · arm

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. suit — to fit
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. suit — in cards
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. net — after costs
  7. pass — a permit
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. net — for catching
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. stand — to bear
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. lie — to recline
  20. suit — clothes
  21. net — in sport
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. branch — a division

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