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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: racket · lie · bear · trunk · suit · bay · chest · dip

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. chest — a box
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. bear — the animal
  8. suit — in cards
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. bear — the animal
  13. chest — of your body
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. dip — to sink
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. suit — clothes
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. suit — to fit
  22. chest — of your body
  23. lie — to recline
  24. bay — a horse colour

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