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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: wound · hand · patient · pound · date · perch · suit · fine

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. hand — help
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. perch — the fish
  7. wound — an injury
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. suit — to fit
  10. suit — in cards
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. fine — high quality
  15. suit — clothes
  16. date — the fruit
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. hand — in cards
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. fine — all right
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. wound — an injury

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