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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. bound — tied together
  3. board — a committee
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. charge — electricity
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mate — a partner
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. bound — certain
  11. charge — in control
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. charge — a price
  15. bound — obliged
  16. board — to get on
  17. mate — to breed
  18. patient — calm and waiting

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