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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. mug — to rob
  6. root — of a plant
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. tube — a container
  10. root — of a word
  11. cue — a signal
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. root — the cause
  14. mug — a cup
  15. fine — high quality
  16. lie — to recline
  17. cue — a hint
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. cue — for pool
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. tube — the underground
  23. fine — all right
  24. mug — a face

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