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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 ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. mine — for digging
  6. staff — employees
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. staff — a stick
  9. saw — the tool
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. staff — employees
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. saw — the tool
  19. toast — bread
  20. pitch — completely
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. mine — an explosive

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