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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: bound · vault · calf · patient · hide · arm · can · current

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. vault — a safe
  4. bound — certain
  5. can — to be able to
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. can — a tin
  9. bound — obliged
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. bound — tied together
  16. current — electric
  17. current — of water
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. can — a tin
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. current — happening now
  24. calf — a young animal

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