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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: roll · hide · season · coach · lie · suit · staff · ball

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. staff — a stick
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. suit — clothes
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. season — in sport
  7. ball — a dance
  8. suit — in cards
  9. suit — to fit
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. staff — employees
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. staff — employees
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. roll — a list
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. season — of the year
  21. roll — a cake
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. ball — a great time

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