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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 120 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 ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. can — a tin
  3. ground — crushed
  4. object — to protest
  5. mug — a cup
  6. ball — a dance
  7. club — for dancing
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. object — an aim
  10. mug — a face
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. hand — help
  13. can — to be able to
  14. club — for golf
  15. ball — a great time
  16. object — a thing
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. club — a group
  19. ground — the earth
  20. can — a tin
  21. hand — in cards
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. mug — to rob
  24. ground — a position

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