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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  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. mug — to rob
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. mug — a cup
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. bound — certain
  9. bound — tied together
  10. ball — a dance
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. rush — hurry
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. craft — boats
  15. craft — a skill
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. ball — a great time
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. bound — obliged
  22. mug — a face
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  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