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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  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. patient — a sick person
  2. saw — the tool
  3. net — after costs
  4. key — the most important part
  5. wax — to grow
  6. key — in music
  7. pit — in a race
  8. can — a tin
  9. net — for catching
  10. can — a tin
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. saw — the tool
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. key — for a lock
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. pit — a hole
  19. can — to be able to
  20. net — in sport
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  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