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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. cue — a hint
  3. face — to confront
  4. charge — a price
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. scale — size or range
  8. face — to point toward
  9. cue — for pool
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. shower — to wash
  13. shower — rain
  14. face — part of the head
  15. scale — in music
  16. charge — in control
  17. cue — a signal
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. charge — electricity
  20. spring — the season
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. spring — a coil
  23. spring — of water
  24. safe — out of danger

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