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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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. game — wild animals
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. season — in sport
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. game — a match
  15. pit — a hole
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. pit — in a race
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. season — of the year
  22. prune — to trim
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. prune — to trim

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