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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 116 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: safe · patient · spring · rash · dip · file · pitch · rest

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. dip — to sink
  3. file — a line of people
  4. rest — what's left
  5. spring — the season
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. rest — a break
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. file — a document
  11. rash — a series
  12. rest — what's left
  13. file — a tool
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. spring — a coil
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. rash — hasty
  21. pitch — completely
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. spring — of water

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