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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 ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. lie — to recline
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. foot — a measure
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. bound — tied together
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. stem — to come from
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. rest — a break
  15. bound — obliged
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. bound — certain
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. rest — what's left
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. sharp — clever
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. lie — an untruth

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