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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: sharp · key · mouse · prune · nail · rest · fan · patient

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. key — in music
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. prune — to trim
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. key — the most important part
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. rest — a break
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. rest — what's left
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. prune — to trim
  17. rest — what's left
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. key — for a lock
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. mouse — the animal

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