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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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. bat — the animal
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. spell — a short time
  9. file — a line of people
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. file — a tool
  13. roll — a list
  14. bat — in an idiom
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. spell — magic
  17. roll — a cake
  18. file — a document
  19. bat — for baseball
  20. ball — a great time
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. spell — letters
  24. ball — a dance

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