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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 116 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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. game — wild animals
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. key — in music
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. mug — to rob
  8. mug — a cup
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. bore — to tire
  11. bore — to drill
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. mug — a face
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. mark — a trace
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. plane — a tool
  19. key — the most important part
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mark — a grade
  24. key — for a lock

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