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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 116 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. False peace will not ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. last — to go on
  2. bound — tied together
  3. can — a tin
  4. last — finally
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. can — to be able to
  7. can — a tin
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. lie — to recline
  11. bound — certain
  12. pitch — completely
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. mate — to breed
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. mate — a partner
  19. last — final
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. mate — a friend
  24. bound — obliged

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