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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: dip · safe · tube · patient · key · racket · ball · lie

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. key — the most important part
  4. key — in music
  5. tube — a container
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. ball — a dance
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. ball — a great time
  16. dip — to sink
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. tube — the underground
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. lie — to recline
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. racket — for tennis

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