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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. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. plane — a tool
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. can — a tin
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. content — the amount
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. pit — in a race
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. band — a ring
  16. content — happy
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. rush — hurry
  22. band — a music group
  23. can — a tin
  24. can — to be able to

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