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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 farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. deal — to handle
  10. craft — a skill
  11. prune — to trim
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. prune — to trim
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. spell — magic
  19. spell — a short time
  20. craft — boats
  21. dip — to sink
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. spell — letters
  24. deal — an agreement

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