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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.

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: rash · tear · leaves · patient · squash · foot · rush · ruler

  1. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — from crying
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. squash — the sport
  4. foot — a measure
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. squash — to crush
  8. rash — a series
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. rash — hasty
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. tear — from crying
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. rush — hurry
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. tear — to rip
  24. leaves — to go away

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