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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. bound — certain
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. bound — obliged
  6. tube — the underground
  7. season — in sport
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. tube — a container
  14. bound — tied together
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. deal — to handle
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. season — of the year
  24. patient — a sick person

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