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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 farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. track — a song
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. current — happening now
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. key — in music
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ball — a dance
  11. track — to keep track
  12. current — of water
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. key — for a lock
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. current — electric
  17. rest — what's left
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. rest — a break
  20. ball — a great time
  21. key — the most important part
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. rest — what's left
  24. track — a path

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