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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 124 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. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. march — music
  4. bound — certain
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. march — the month
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. row — a line
  9. pitch — completely
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. march — the month
  12. rush — hurry
  13. staff — employees
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. bound — obliged
  17. staff — employees
  18. lie — to recline
  19. bound — tied together
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. row — to paddle
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. staff — a stick
  24. rush — to hurry

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