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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. mug — to rob
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. rock — music
  6. mark — a grade
  7. spell — letters
  8. mark — a trace
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bore — to tire
  15. spell — magic
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. rock — a stone
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. mug — a cup
  21. spell — a short time
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. bore — to drill
  24. coach — a trainer

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