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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. mark — a trace
  3. bore — to drill
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. band — a ring
  6. ball — a dance
  7. ball — a great time
  8. deal — to handle
  9. band — a music group
  10. net — for catching
  11. mark — a grade
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. net — after costs
  20. bore — to tire
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. net — in sport
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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