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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 little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. pop — soda
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. last — finally
  8. last — to go on
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. last — final
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bear — the animal
  18. mark — a trace
  19. mark — a grade
  20. pop — to visit
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. pop — music
  24. safe — a strongbox

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