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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.

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: safe · ruler · suit · net · lie · degree · patient · bound

  1. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — an amount
  2. bound — certain
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bound — tied together
  5. degree — temperature
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. suit — in cards
  10. suit — to fit
  11. bound — obliged
  12. lie — to recline
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. net — for catching
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. net — in sport
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. degree — from a university
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. suit — clothes
  22. net — after costs
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. ruler — a monarch

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