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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. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. key — in music
  3. key — for a lock
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. key — the most important part
  8. chest — a box
  9. toast — bread
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — music
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. rush — hurry
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. chest — of your 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