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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bound — obliged
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. branch — a division
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. mark — a grade
  17. bound — tied together
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. mark — a trace
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. branch — of a bank

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