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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.

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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: rush · roll · pitch · mouse · safe · stock · patient · bound

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. roll — a list
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. bound — tied together
  9. roll — a cake
  10. bound — obliged
  11. stock — goods
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. stock — shares
  19. rush — hurry
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. pitch — completely
  22. bound — certain
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. mouse — for a computer

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