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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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. staff — employees
  3. staff — a stick
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. bound — obliged
  8. court — of a king
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. foot — a measure
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. court — for sport
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. lie — to recline
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bound — certain
  22. court — of law
  23. bound — tied together
  24. staff — employees

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