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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. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. bulb — for light
  4. rock — music
  5. key — in music
  6. key — for a lock
  7. mug — a face
  8. rock — a stone
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. key — the most important part
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. bulb — for light
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. chip — for betting
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. pass — a permit
  22. mug — to rob
  23. mug — a cup
  24. chip — to eat

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