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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: patient · last · leaves · saw · face · deal · chip · shower

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. last — finally
  3. face — to confront
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. face — part of the head
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. last — final
  12. chip — for betting
  13. shower — rain
  14. saw — the tool
  15. shower — to wash
  16. face — to point toward
  17. saw — the tool
  18. deal — to handle
  19. chip — to eat
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. last — to go on
  24. deal — a big deal

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