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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. bound — certain
  3. court — of law
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. suit — clothes
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. court — of a king
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. root — the cause
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. root — of a plant
  18. bound — tied together
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. court — for sport
  22. root — of a word
  23. bound — obliged
  24. suit — in cards

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