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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: lie · degree · wave · root · rush · fine · patient · bay

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. fine — all right
  7. degree — from a university
  8. fine — high quality
  9. rush — hurry
  10. degree — an amount
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. root — of a plant
  17. root — the cause
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. degree — temperature
  21. lie — to recline
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. root — of a word

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