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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: firm · leaves · temple · vault · patient · bay · bound · hide

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. firm — a company
  6. firm — steady
  7. firm — decided
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. vault — a safe
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. bound — obliged
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. bound — certain
  20. bound — tied together
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. leaves — to go away

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