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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. march — the month
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. march — the month
  14. march — music
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. lie — to recline
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. mine — for digging
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. lash — to lash out

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