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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. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. spell — a short time
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. tear — to rip
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. tear — from crying
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. dip — to sink
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. snap — to click
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. can — a tin
  18. can — a tin
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. can — to be able to
  21. spell — magic
  22. spell — letters
  23. tear — from crying
  24. patient — a sick person

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