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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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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. key — for a lock
  6. pop — soda
  7. pass — a permit
  8. pop — to visit
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. pop — music
  12. date — the fruit
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. suit — to fit
  17. suit — in cards
  18. key — in music
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. key — the most important part
  24. date — on the calendar

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