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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 116 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: lie · spring · suit · nail · file · hide · mine · patient

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. file — a line of people
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. file — a tool
  9. suit — to fit
  10. suit — in cards
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. spring — the season
  13. spring — a coil
  14. mine — for digging
  15. spring — of water
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. lie — to recline
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. file — a document
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. suit — clothes

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