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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 hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. land — to come down
  5. land — a country
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. rock — a stone
  11. object — to protest
  12. can — a tin
  13. land — ground
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. rock — music
  16. object — a thing
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. can — a tin
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. can — to be able to
  24. object — an aim

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