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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. current — happening now
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. current — of water
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. bound — certain
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. bound — obliged
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. bound — tied together
  17. current — electric
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. lie — to recline
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. pass — a permit
  24. date — the fruit

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