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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. rash — a series
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. bound — tied together
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. rash — hasty
  9. squash — to crush
  10. bound — certain
  11. spell — magic
  12. pass — a permit
  13. bound — obliged
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. squash — the sport
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. spell — a short time
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. spell — letters
  24. rock — music

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