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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 farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. mate — to breed
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. mate — a partner
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. mine — for digging
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. rush — hurry
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mate — a friend
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. mine — an explosive

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