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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 116 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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. rest — what's left
  3. club — for dancing
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. bear — the animal
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. rest — a break
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. club — a group
  13. ball — a dance
  14. ball — a great time
  15. rest — what's left
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. pass — a permit
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. sharp — clever
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. club — for golf
  24. bear — the animal

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