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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 got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. face — to point toward
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. face — part of the head
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. fine — all right
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. sharp — clever
  13. face — to confront
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. toast — bread
  20. pass — a permit
  21. fine — high quality
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. toast — the most admired

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