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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 116 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. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. bound — tied together
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. hand — in cards
  5. key — for a lock
  6. bound — obliged
  7. hand — help
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. bound — certain
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. charge — electricity
  13. key — the most important part
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. wax — to grow
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. charge — a price
  21. key — in music
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. charge — in control

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