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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 120 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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. squash — to crush
  4. lie — to recline
  5. mate — a friend
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. suit — clothes
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. squash — the sport
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. rock — music
  12. suit — in cards
  13. ground — a position
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. mate — a partner
  16. ground — crushed
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. ground — the earth
  20. mate — to breed
  21. rock — a stone
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. suit — to fit

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