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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
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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: deal · patient · rush · perch · arm · rash · safe · wound

  1. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. wound — an injury
  6. perch — the fish
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. deal — to handle
  10. wound — an injury
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. rush — hurry
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. rash — hasty
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. rash — a series

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