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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. rash — hasty
  4. wound — an injury
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. mate — a partner
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. rash — a series
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. firm — decided
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. rush — hurry
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. mate — a friend
  17. mate — to breed
  18. wound — an injury
  19. deal — to handle
  20. lie — to recline
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. firm — steady
  23. firm — a company
  24. deal — a big deal

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