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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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. charge — a price
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. charge — electricity
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. bound — certain
  10. mark — a grade
  11. content — the amount
  12. bound — tied together
  13. mark — a trace
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. bound — obliged
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. content — happy
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. charge — in control

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