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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
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: rash · foot · key · bulb · staff · ball · pitch · patient

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. pitch — completely
  5. staff — employees
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. ball — a great time
  8. staff — employees
  9. ball — a dance
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. foot — a measure
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. key — the most important part
  16. bulb — for light
  17. key — in music
  18. rash — hasty
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. key — for a lock
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. bulb — for light
  24. rash — a series

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