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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. key — for a lock
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. mark — a trace
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mug — a face
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. straw — dry grass
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. mug — to rob
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. deal — to handle
  22. key — the most important part
  23. mug — a cup
  24. key — in music

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