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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: patient · roll · lie · safe · mouse · mug · pit · season

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. pit — in a race
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. season — of the year
  11. pit — a hole
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mug — to rob
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. mug — a face
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. roll — a cake
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. season — in sport
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. roll — a list
  24. lie — to recline

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