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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. sharp — clever
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. tube — a container
  7. mine — for digging
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. bank — of a river
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. tube — the underground
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. lie — to recline
  23. bank — for money
  24. pitcher — a jug

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