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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 120 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: rule · can · nail · board · mine · foot · pass · patient

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  16. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. foot — a measure
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. board — to get on
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. rule — a law
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. rule — government
  16. rule — to rule out
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. pass — a permit
  20. can — to be able to
  21. can — a tin
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. mine — for digging
  24. can — a tin

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