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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 116 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 ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. There's no middle ________________.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. suit — to fit
  3. rest — what's left
  4. dip — to sink
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. rest — a break
  10. bore — to tire
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. wound — an injury
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. pass — a permit
  15. ground — the earth
  16. wound — an injury
  17. suit — in cards
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. suit — clothes
  20. ground — crushed
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. bore — to drill
  23. ground — a position
  24. patient — a sick person

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