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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 120 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: ruler · stock · lean · board · pitcher · rest · ball · lie

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. lie — to recline
  6. rest — a break
  7. ball — a dance
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. stock — goods
  10. rest — what's left
  11. lean — to bend
  12. lean — thin
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. rest — what's left
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. board — to get on
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. board — a committee
  21. stock — shares
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. ball — a great time
  24. board — a flat piece

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