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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: bore · lean · mate · patient · leaves · ruler · file · date

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. lean — to bend
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. mate — a partner
  7. file — a tool
  8. bore — to drill
  9. date — the fruit
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. mate — a friend
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. file — a line of people
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. file — a document
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. lean — thin
  23. bore — to tire
  24. mate — to breed

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