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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. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. can — to be able to
  4. rest — what's left
  5. tube — a container
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. mug — to rob
  9. mug — a face
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. mug — a cup
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. can — a tin
  14. rest — what's left
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. rest — a break
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. snap — to click
  23. can — a tin
  24. bay — a horse colour

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