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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 120 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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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. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. key — in music
  5. key — the most important part
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. key — for a lock
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. foot — a measure
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. drill — army training
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. drill — a practice
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. drill — the tool
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. wake — a trail
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. fan — a supporter

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