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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.

Make a worksheet

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: court · wake · patient · leaves · pass · date · fan · ruler

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. wake — a trail
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. court — of law
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. date — the fruit
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. court — of a king
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. pass — a permit
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. court — for sport
  23. leaves — to go away
  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