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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: dip · rash · net · plane · rest · patient · leaves · press

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. net — for catching
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. rest — what's left
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. press — a publisher
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. rest — a break
  14. press — newspapers
  15. dip — to sink
  16. rest — what's left
  17. net — in sport
  18. press — to push
  19. rash — hasty
  20. rash — a series
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. net — after costs
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. plane — a tool

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