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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 124 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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. object — an aim
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. staff — employees
  5. can — a tin
  6. staff — a stick
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. rash — hasty
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. object — to protest
  13. object — a thing
  14. bulb — for light
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. staff — employees
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. bulb — for light
  19. can — to be able to
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. rash — a series
  24. racket — a loud noise

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