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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. deal — to handle
  3. rash — a series
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. perch — the fish
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. rash — hasty
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. drill — a practice
  13. bound — tied together
  14. drill — the tool
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. bound — obliged
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. bound — certain
  24. leaves — to go away

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