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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. branch — a division
  3. mug — to rob
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. rule — government
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. rule — to rule out
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. pass — a permit
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. mug — a face
  20. rule — a law
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. mug — a cup
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. dip — a sauce

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