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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. rock — a stone
  4. bound — tied together
  5. shower — to wash
  6. rock — music
  7. spring — of water
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. kick — in football
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. shower — rain
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. pass — a permit
  19. spring — the season
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. spring — a coil
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. bound — certain
  24. bound — obliged

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