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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 farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. False peace will not ________________.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. last — to go on
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. last — final
  8. ball — a dance
  9. plane — a tool
  10. foot — a measure
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. current — happening now
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. board — a committee
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. last — finally
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. board — to get on
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. current — of water
  23. current — electric
  24. ball — a great time

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