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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. prune — to trim
  5. bound — obliged
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. key — in music
  8. key — the most important part
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. saw — the tool
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. prune — to trim
  22. bound — tied together
  23. key — for a lock
  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