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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 120 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
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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: patient · mug · wound · temple · mouse · suit · clip · mark

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. mark — a trace
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. wound — an injury
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. clip — a video
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. wound — an injury
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. mug — to rob
  17. suit — in cards
  18. mug — a cup
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. suit — to fit
  21. clip — for paper
  22. mug — a face
  23. clip — to cut
  24. mark — a grade

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