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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 nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. foot — a measure
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. can — a tin
  5. fine — high quality
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. bear — the animal
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. can — a tin
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. bear — the animal
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. march — the month
  15. march — music
  16. fine — all right
  17. face — part of the head
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. can — to be able to
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. march — the month
  22. face — to confront
  23. face — to point toward
  24. bear — to put up with

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