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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 · board · wound · ruler · mate · stand · patient · spring

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. root — of a plant
  3. stand — to bear
  4. wound — an injury
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. root — the cause
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. spring — the season
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. board — a committee
  14. mate — a partner
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. mate — to breed
  17. mate — a friend
  18. spring — of water
  19. root — of a word
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. wound — an injury
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. board — to get on
  24. stand — for spectators

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