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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: root · coach · nail · patient · face · deal · calf · kick

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. root — of a plant
  6. kick — in football
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. face — part of the head
  11. root — of a word
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. deal — to handle
  17. face — to point toward
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. face — to confront
  20. root — the cause
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. calf — a young animal

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