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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. drill — a practice
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. suit — clothes
  5. fine — all right
  6. content — happy
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. suit — to fit
  10. suit — in cards
  11. content — the amount
  12. fine — high quality
  13. can — a tin
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. drill — the tool
  18. can — a tin
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. drill — army training
  24. mouse — for a computer

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