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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 120 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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. band — a ring
  3. mug — a face
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. band — a music group
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. mark — a grade
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. mug — to rob
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. branch — a division
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. mug — a cup
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. mark — a trace

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