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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.

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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 party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. cap — of ice
  6. shower — rain
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. cap — a lid
  13. season — in sport
  14. cap — a hat
  15. face — to point toward
  16. foot — a measure
  17. face — part of the head
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. season — of the year
  20. shower — to wash
  21. rash — hasty
  22. rush — hurry
  23. face — to confront
  24. foot — the bottom

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