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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: safe · bound · jam · key · patient · calf · mug · rash

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. rash — a series
  7. mug — a cup
  8. key — the most important part
  9. mug — a face
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. bound — tied together
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. key — in music
  16. mug — to rob
  17. bound — certain
  18. key — for a lock
  19. rash — hasty
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. bound — obliged
  24. jam — in traffic

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