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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 nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. bass — the fish
  5. plane — a tool
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. charge — in control
  12. bass — low music
  13. mine — for digging
  14. charge — a price
  15. ground — crushed
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. ground — a position
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. charge — electricity
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. ground — the earth

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