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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 nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. file — a document
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. mug — to rob
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. stand — to bear
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. last — final
  15. last — to go on
  16. mug — a face
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. last — finally
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. mug — a cup
  22. file — a line of people
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. file — a tool

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