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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 farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. squash — the sport
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. saw — the tool
  5. shower — to wash
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. shower — rain
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. charge — electricity
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. saw — the tool
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. stand — to bear
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. squash — to crush
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. charge — in control
  23. charge — a price
  24. stand — for spectators

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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