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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 little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. board — to get on
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. branch — a division
  8. field — farmland
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. fine — all right
  13. field — a subject
  14. board — a committee
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. field — for sport
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. bear — the animal
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. fine — high quality

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