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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 120 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 ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. pit — in a race
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. cap — a hat
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. fall — the season
  9. bound — certain
  10. cap — a lid
  11. bound — obliged
  12. root — of a word
  13. fall — to drop
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. cap — of ice
  16. root — the cause
  17. pass — a permit
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. fall — to drop
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. bound — tied together
  22. pit — a hole
  23. rush — hurry
  24. root — of a plant

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