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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: root · bay · band · branch · dip · stand · lie · net

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. dip — to sink
  6. branch — a division
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. net — for catching
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. band — a music group
  14. band — a ring
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. stand — to bear
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. root — the cause
  19. net — in sport
  20. net — after costs
  21. root — of a word
  22. root — of a plant
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. dip — to dunk

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