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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 farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. face — to confront
  3. face — to point toward
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. saw — the tool
  7. kick — in football
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. suit — to fit
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. saw — the tool
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. board — a committee
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. suit — in cards
  22. suit — clothes
  23. board — to get on
  24. face — part of the head

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