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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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. staff — a stick
  5. staff — employees
  6. drill — a practice
  7. rash — a series
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. bound — tied together
  10. bulb — for light
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. bulb — for light
  13. staff — employees
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. lean — to bend
  16. lean — thin
  17. drill — the tool
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. drill — army training
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. bound — certain
  22. bound — obliged
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. rash — hasty

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