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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 ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. He was locked up in a ________________.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. cell — in biology
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. bass — the fish
  10. bass — low music
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. face — part of the head
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. cell — a phone
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. face — to confront
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. face — to point toward
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. cell — in a prison
  24. temple — side of the head

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