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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. cue — a signal
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. cue — a hint
  7. face — to confront
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. field — for sport
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. band — a ring
  12. face — to point toward
  13. face — part of the head
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. field — farmland
  18. field — a subject
  19. cue — for pool
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. band — a music group
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. fan — a supporter

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