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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: fan · lie · cap · rest · patient · can · track · foot

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. track — a song
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. rest — a break
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. cap — a lid
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. rest — what's left
  10. cap — of ice
  11. can — a tin
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. track — to keep track
  14. track — a path
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. cap — a hat
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. lie — to recline
  21. rest — what's left
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. foot — a measure
  24. foot — part of the body

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