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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. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. suit — to fit
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. bore — to tire
  7. deal — to handle
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. staff — a stick
  10. suit — in cards
  11. mate — a friend
  12. staff — employees
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. suit — clothes
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. staff — employees
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. mate — to breed
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. can — to be able to
  22. can — a tin
  23. bore — to drill
  24. can — a tin

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