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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 farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. pass — a permit
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. court — for sport
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. chip — to eat
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. board — a committee
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. board — to get on
  16. chip — for betting
  17. court — of law
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. chair — a leader
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. court — of a king

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