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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: cell · rush · key · patient · charge · ruler · toast · hand

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. He was locked up in a ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. charge — electricity
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. key — the most important part
  7. toast — bread
  8. charge — a price
  9. cell — in biology
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. hand — help
  12. cell — a phone
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. charge — in control
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. hand — in cards
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. cell — in a prison
  20. key — for a lock
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. rush — hurry

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