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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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. pit — in a race
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. rock — a stone
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. pit — a hole
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. face — part of the head
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. face — to point toward
  15. fine — all right
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. dip — to sink
  19. fine — high quality
  20. rock — music
  21. face — to confront
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. dip — to dunk

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