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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 nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. cap — a hat
  4. can — a tin
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. perch — the fish
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. can — to be able to
  11. can — a tin
  12. cap — a lid
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. cap — of ice
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. stock — goods
  21. stock — shares
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. mouse — the animal

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