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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. tube — a container
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. roll — a list
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. rash — a series
  15. tube — the underground
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. roll — a cake
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. present — there
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. present — a gift
  24. rash — hasty

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