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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. saw — the tool
  7. drill — a practice
  8. bound — obliged
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. drill — army training
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. saw — the tool
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. drill — the tool
  19. rush — hurry
  20. bound — tied together
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. bound — certain
  23. stem — to come from
  24. rush — a thrill

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