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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 ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. bore — to drill
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. rest — what's left
  8. rash — hasty
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. pit — in a race
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. bore — to tire
  14. sharp — clever
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. rest — what's left
  17. rash — a series
  18. rest — a break
  19. pit — a hole
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. perch — the fish
  24. sharp — with an edge

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