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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. spell — magic
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. chest — of your body
  6. fall — the season
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. march — music
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. current — of water
  12. chest — a box
  13. march — the month
  14. spell — letters
  15. fall — to drop
  16. spell — a short time
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. current — electric
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. fall — to drop
  21. march — the month
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. current — happening now
  24. chest — of your body

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