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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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. key — for a lock
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. ball — a great time
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. spell — letters
  8. roll — a list
  9. can — a tin
  10. dip — to sink
  11. can — to be able to
  12. roll — a cake
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. spell — magic
  16. spell — a short time
  17. can — a tin
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ball — a dance
  20. key — in music
  21. key — the most important part
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. patient — a sick person

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