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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. net — after costs
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. net — in sport
  14. mark — a grade
  15. rash — a series
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. mark — a trace
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. rash — hasty
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. net — for catching
  24. mark — to pay attention

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