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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: stand · arm · lean · chip · mark · race · rush · lie

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lean — to bend
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. race — humankind
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mark — a trace
  8. lie — to recline
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. mark — a grade
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. stand — to bear
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. chip — for betting
  19. chip — to eat
  20. race — the arms race
  21. lean — thin
  22. race — a contest
  23. rush — hurry
  24. arm — a part of something

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