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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: bulb · foot · pit · temple · patient · rash · suit · hide

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. rash — hasty
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. bulb — for light
  7. suit — in cards
  8. rash — a series
  9. suit — clothes
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. pit — a hole
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. pit — in a race
  18. suit — to fit
  19. foot — a measure
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. temple — side of the head

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