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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.

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: fine · toast · coach · spell · key · patient · chip · nail

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. key — in music
  4. key — for a lock
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. fine — all right
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. key — the most important part
  11. spell — a short time
  12. toast — bread
  13. chip — to eat
  14. spell — letters
  15. chip — for betting
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. fine — high quality
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. spell — magic
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. toast — the most admired

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