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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. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. mug — to rob
  6. date — the fruit
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. suit — in cards
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. can — to be able to
  11. can — a tin
  12. mug — a face
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. saw — the tool
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. can — a tin
  18. saw — the tool
  19. suit — to fit
  20. mug — a cup
  21. suit — clothes
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. date — on the calendar

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