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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. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. lie — to recline
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. board — a committee
  8. stem — to come from
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. dip — to sink
  11. board — to get on
  12. current — of water
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. current — electric
  15. sharp — clever
  16. current — happening now
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. stem — of a plant

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