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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: patient · bulb · wound · safe · temple · mug · bay · bark

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mug — to rob
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. wound — an injury
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. bulb — for light
  14. mug — a face
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bark — to shout
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. wound — an injury
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. mug — a cup
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. patient — a sick person

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