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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. suit — to fit
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. chip — for betting
  9. suit — clothes
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. lie — to recline
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. chip — to eat
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. rash — hasty
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. rash — a series
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. suit — in cards
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. chip — in a computer

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