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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 120 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: net · rest · ruler · staff · lean · mark · saw · patient

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. lean — to bend
  3. saw — the tool
  4. saw — the tool
  5. rest — what's left
  6. net — for catching
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. rest — what's left
  9. mark — a grade
  10. staff — employees
  11. mark — a trace
  12. lean — thin
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. rest — a break
  18. staff — employees
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. net — after costs
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. staff — a stick
  24. mark — to pay attention

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