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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. rest — what's left
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. rest — a break
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. cue — a signal
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. rest — what's left
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. cue — a hint
  15. lean — to bend
  16. saw — the tool
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. cue — for pool
  20. rush — hurry
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. lean — thin
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. saw — the tool

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