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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
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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: key · wave · mark · current · calf · mine · mug · patient

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. current — happening now
  3. mark — a grade
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. mug — a face
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. current — electric
  12. mug — a cup
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. mark — a trace
  17. mug — to rob
  18. current — of water
  19. mine — for digging
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. key — the most important part
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. key — in music
  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