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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: charge · swing · net · lie · hand · fine · arm · stand

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. swing — music
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. swing — to play on
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. charge — electricity
  9. net — in sport
  10. charge — in control
  11. fine — high quality
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. fine — all right
  14. stand — to bear
  15. lie — to recline
  16. hand — help
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. net — for catching
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. charge — a price
  22. hand — in cards
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. net — after costs

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