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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: foot · pass · charge · patient · rule · sharp · calf · lie

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. charge — in control
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. pass — a permit
  6. rule — government
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. sharp — clever
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. rule — a law
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. rule — to rule out
  15. foot — a measure
  16. charge — a price
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. charge — electricity
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. lie — to recline
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. lie — an untruth

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