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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. When was this ________________ built?
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. fall — the season
  8. pitch — completely
  9. root — of a plant
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. root — the cause
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. row — to paddle
  19. fall — to drop
  20. root — of a word
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. row — a line
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. fall — to drop

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