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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. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. squash — the sport
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. squash — to crush
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. wound — an injury
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. board — to get on
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. pass — a permit
  17. board — a committee
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. wound — an injury
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. mark — a grade
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. mark — a trace
  24. squash — the vegetable

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