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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 · wound · fan · toast · scale · arm · pit · bay

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. scale — size or range
  3. pit — a hole
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. scale — in music
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. wound — an injury
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. wound — an injury
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. pit — in a race
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. toast — bread
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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