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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. mug — a cup
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. net — in sport
  8. object — a thing
  9. date — the fruit
  10. bound — obliged
  11. object — to protest
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. net — after costs
  14. bound — tied together
  15. bound — certain
  16. mug — to rob
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — to be able to
  22. mug — a face
  23. can — a tin
  24. net — for catching

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