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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. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. current — electric
  7. fall — to drop
  8. can — a tin
  9. fall — to drop
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. fall — the season
  14. pitch — completely
  15. sharp — clever
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. tube — a container
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. can — to be able to
  20. can — a tin
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. current — happening now
  23. tube — the underground
  24. current — of water

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