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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: pitcher · ball · coach · deal · leaves · arm · bound · patient

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. ball — a great time
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. bound — certain
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. ball — a dance
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. bound — tied together
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. deal — to handle

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