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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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. wound — an injury
  3. wound — an injury
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. track — a path
  6. bound — certain
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. current — of water
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. bound — obliged
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. track — to keep track
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. bound — tied together
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. current — electric
  19. dip — to sink
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. current — happening now
  24. track — a song

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