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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: fine · toast · patient · wound · march · bore · lie · can

  1. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  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. wound — an injury
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. wound — an injury
  4. march — the month
  5. can — a tin
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. fine — all right
  8. lie — to recline
  9. march — the month
  10. bore — to tire
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. can — a tin
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. fine — high quality
  15. can — to be able to
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. bore — to drill
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. march — music
  22. toast — bread
  23. lie — an untruth
  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