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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. charge — in control
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. rock — a stone
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. root — the cause
  11. rock — music
  12. stand — to bear
  13. charge — a price
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. root — of a word
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. charge — electricity
  22. bark — to shout
  23. root — of a plant
  24. wax — to grow

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