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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 120 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: perch · bound · staff · mate · prune · patient · bay · lie

  1. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. bound — obliged
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. mate — to breed
  5. bound — tied together
  6. staff — a stick
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. prune — to trim
  11. perch — the fish
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. mate — a partner
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. staff — employees
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. staff — employees
  18. lie — to recline
  19. mate — a friend
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. bound — certain
  24. bay — a horse colour

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