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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  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. scale — in music
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. branch — a division
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. roll — a list
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. scale — size or range
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. sharp — clever
  15. press — a publisher
  16. key — in music
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. key — for a lock
  19. key — the most important part
  20. roll — a cake
  21. press — to push
  22. press — newspapers
  23. calf — a young animal
  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