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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
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: hide · coach · patient · leaves · bay · wound · charge · court

  1. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of law
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. wound — an injury
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. charge — a price
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. charge — in control
  16. wound — an injury
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. court — of a king
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. charge — electricity
  21. court — for sport
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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