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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: patient · bound · court · rash · stand · face · toast · scale

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. court — of a king
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. scale — size or range
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. face — to confront
  8. bound — tied together
  9. scale — in music
  10. rash — hasty
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. face — part of the head
  14. court — for sport
  15. stand — to bear
  16. face — to point toward
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. court — of law
  19. bound — certain
  20. toast — bread
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. bound — obliged
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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