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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  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. object — an aim
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. bank — of a river
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. bound — certain
  7. bank — for money
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. saw — the tool
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. bank — for money
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. hand — in cards
  15. saw — the tool
  16. object — to protest
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. hand — help
  19. bound — obliged
  20. wax — to grow
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. object — a thing
  23. bound — tied together
  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