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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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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: patient · track · lean · key · fan · pop · cabinet · present

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. pop — to visit
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. key — in music
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. present — the time now
  10. pop — soda
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. pop — music
  13. track — a song
  14. key — for a lock
  15. track — a path
  16. present — a gift
  17. track — to keep track
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. present — there
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. lean — to bend
  22. key — the most important part
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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