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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 ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. current — of water
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. game — a match
  7. game — wild animals
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. key — in music
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. track — a song
  12. track — to keep track
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. key — the most important part
  16. current — happening now
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. track — a path
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. current — electric
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. can — a tin
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. key — for a lock

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