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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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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: safe · field · ruler · season · file · patient · hand · can

  1. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. can — a tin
  4. season — in sport
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. field — farmland
  7. field — for sport
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. can — to be able to
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. field — a subject
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. file — a line of people
  17. file — a tool
  18. file — a document
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. hand — in cards
  21. can — a tin
  22. season — of the year
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. safe — out of danger

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