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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: arm · stand · hide · object · bound · toast · sharp · patient

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. stand — to bear
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. object — a thing
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. bound — obliged
  15. object — an aim
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. sharp — clever
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. bound — certain
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. object — to protest
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. bound — tied together
  24. toast — bread

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