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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. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. mug — to rob
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. deal — to handle
  7. staff — employees
  8. staff — a stick
  9. saw — the tool
  10. suit — in cards
  11. track — a song
  12. staff — employees
  13. mug — a face
  14. suit — clothes
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. track — to keep track
  18. track — a path
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. mug — a cup
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. suit — to fit
  24. saw — the tool

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