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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 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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. spell — a short time
  3. spell — letters
  4. spring — of water
  5. bound — obliged
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. lean — to bend
  15. spring — the season
  16. bound — tied together
  17. spring — a coil
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. spell — magic
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. lean — thin
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bound — certain

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