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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 ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. track — a path
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. spring — of water
  6. face — part of the head
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. spring — a coil
  11. face — to point toward
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. pitch — completely
  14. spring — the season
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. face — to confront
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. track — to keep track
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. track — a song
  24. jam — in traffic

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