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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 116 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 nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. track — a path
  3. rock — a stone
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. spring — of water
  10. lie — to recline
  11. tube — a container
  12. tube — the underground
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. bore — to tire
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. spring — a coil
  18. rock — music
  19. track — a song
  20. bore — to drill
  21. track — to keep track
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. spring — the season
  24. ruler — for measuring

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