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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 nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. suit — in cards
  4. rock — a stone
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. current — of water
  9. rock — music
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. current — happening now
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. current — electric
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. suit — to fit
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. suit — clothes
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. bowl — a football final

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