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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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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: file · mug · patient · deal · root · temple · pit · arm

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. deal — to handle
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. file — a tool
  8. mug — a cup
  9. root — the cause
  10. file — a document
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. mug — to rob
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. root — of a plant
  16. mug — a face
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. pit — a hole
  20. root — of a word
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. pit — in a race
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. temple — a place of worship

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