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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. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. ball — a dance
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. bound — obliged
  7. hand — help
  8. date — the fruit
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. can — a tin
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. can — to be able to
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bass — low music
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. bound — tied together
  21. can — a tin
  22. ball — a great time
  23. bass — the fish
  24. bound — certain

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