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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. saw — the tool
  6. press — a publisher
  7. plane — a tool
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. key — the most important part
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. press — newspapers
  14. press — to push
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. saw — the tool
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. key — for a lock
  20. sharp — clever
  21. key — in music
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. plane — in geometry

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