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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. key — in music
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. track — to keep track
  9. key — the most important part
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. chip — to eat
  16. cue — a signal
  17. cue — a hint
  18. track — a path
  19. track — a song
  20. cue — for pool
  21. key — for a lock
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. chip — for betting
  24. patient — a sick person

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