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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: ruler · drill · fan · safe · squash · patient · mate · net

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. drill — the tool
  3. drill — a practice
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. mate — a partner
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. net — after costs
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. net — for catching
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. net — in sport
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. squash — to crush
  19. drill — army training
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. squash — the sport
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. mate — a friend
  24. fan — a supporter

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