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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. chip — to eat
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. chip — for betting
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. rash — hasty
  12. rush — hurry
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. rash — a series
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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