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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.

Make a worksheet

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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  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. saw — the tool
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. press — to push
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. land — a country
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. land — ground
  10. key — the most important part
  11. press — a publisher
  12. key — in music
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. rush — hurry
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. press — newspapers
  19. land — to come down
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. saw — the tool
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. key — for a lock

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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