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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.

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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 must've been a ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. rush — hurry
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. track — a song
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. key — for a lock
  8. bass — the fish
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. stand — to bear
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. key — in music
  21. key — the most important part
  22. track — a path
  23. track — to keep track
  24. bass — low music

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