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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. can — to be able to
  4. chest — of your body
  5. branch — a division
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bound — tied together
  9. mate — a partner
  10. chest — a box
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. suit — clothes
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. mate — to breed
  15. can — a tin
  16. bound — certain
  17. chest — of your body
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. mate — a friend
  20. suit — in cards
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. bound — obliged
  23. suit — to fit
  24. ruler — for measuring

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