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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. mate — a friend
  6. mug — a face
  7. swing — music
  8. mug — a cup
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. swing — to play on
  11. mark — a grade
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. chip — to eat
  14. prune — to trim
  15. swing — in golf
  16. mate — to breed
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. mark — a trace
  19. mate — a partner
  20. chip — for betting
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. mug — to rob
  23. prune — to trim
  24. temple — a place of worship

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