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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. bound — obliged
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. game — wild animals
  7. bore — to tire
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. charge — in control
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. bore — to drill
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. charge — a price
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. game — a match
  18. bark — to shout
  19. bound — certain
  20. bound — tied together
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. pit — a hole
  24. charge — electricity

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