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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. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. lean — thin
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. bank — for money
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. mate — to breed
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bank — of a river
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bulb — for light
  18. mate — a partner
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. lean — to bend
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bank — for money
  24. mate — a friend

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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