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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. mark — a grade
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. mark — a trace
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. lie — to recline
  12. lean — thin
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. tube — a container
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. foot — a measure
  20. tube — the underground
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. lean — to bend
  24. mine — for digging

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