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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 116 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. He was locked up in a ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in a prison
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. cell — in biology
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. wound — an injury
  6. current — electric
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. current — happening now
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. can — to be able to
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. current — of water
  21. wound — an injury
  22. can — a tin
  23. cell — a phone
  24. can — a tin

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