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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: hand · mug · bay · stand · prune · patient · lie · shower

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. hand — in cards
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. shower — to wash
  8. mug — a face
  9. shower — rain
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. prune — to trim
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. hand — help
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. mug — to rob
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. stand — to bear
  22. mug — a cup
  23. prune — to trim
  24. lie — to recline

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