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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. foot — a measure
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. key — the most important part
  5. deal — to handle
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. lie — to recline
  10. net — after costs
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. key — for a lock
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. net — in sport
  20. key — in music
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. net — for catching
  23. snap — to click
  24. foot — part of the body

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