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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: net · game · ruler · key · foot · chest · patient · lash

  1. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — a box
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. chest — of your body
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. chest — of your body
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. game — wild animals
  13. net — for catching
  14. key — for a lock
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. foot — a measure
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. net — after costs
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. net — in sport
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. key — in music
  23. game — a match
  24. key — the most important part

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