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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 116 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 ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. The water is too ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. fine — high quality
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. cold — not warm
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. lie — to recline
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. cold — the Cold War
  17. rush — hurry
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. cold — an illness
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. pass — a permit
  22. fine — all right
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. mine — for digging

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