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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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. rock — music
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. lean — thin
  8. lean — to bend
  9. lie — to recline
  10. ball — a great time
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. ball — a dance
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. rock — a stone
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. branch — a division
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. rush — hurry
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. safe — out of danger

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