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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.

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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: lean · racket · dip · lie · track · land · board · pass

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. pass — a permit
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. board — to get on
  6. board — a committee
  7. track — a path
  8. land — ground
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. dip — to sink
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. land — a country
  14. land — to come down
  15. lean — to bend
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. track — to keep track
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. lean — thin
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. track — a song

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