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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 dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. fall — the season
  3. suit — clothes
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. pass — a permit
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. shower — rain
  8. fall — to drop
  9. ball — a great time
  10. ball — a dance
  11. shower — to wash
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. kick — in football
  14. suit — in cards
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. suit — to fit
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. fall — to drop
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. chair — a leader
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. patient — a sick person

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