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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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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 · rash · bat · track · rest · key · sharp · bulb

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. rest — what's left
  4. bulb — for light
  5. track — a song
  6. track — to keep track
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bat — for baseball
  9. key — the most important part
  10. key — in music
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. track — a path
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. sharp — clever
  18. bat — in an idiom
  19. rash — hasty
  20. rash — a series
  21. rest — a break
  22. bat — the animal
  23. key — for a lock
  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