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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: sharp · spell · patient · leaves · face · cue · fork · net

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. spell — letters
  3. face — to point toward
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. face — part of the head
  6. fork — in a road
  7. cue — for pool
  8. cue — a signal
  9. net — after costs
  10. sharp — clever
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. spell — a short time
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. net — for catching
  19. net — in sport
  20. face — to confront
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. cue — a hint
  24. spell — magic

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