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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: suit · patient · leaves · ruler · ball · sharp · rash · face

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. sharp — clever
  4. ball — a great time
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. ball — a dance
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. suit — clothes
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. suit — to fit
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. face — to confront
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. rash — a series
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. suit — in cards
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. face — to point toward
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. rash — hasty
  24. rash — on the skin

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