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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 reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. can — a tin
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. spell — letters
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. bound — certain
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. rest — a break
  14. spell — magic
  15. rest — what's left
  16. bound — obliged
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. spell — a short time
  21. can — to be able to
  22. can — a tin
  23. vault — a safe
  24. rest — what's left

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