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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: key · pitcher · patient · leaves · board · mug · bulb · bank

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. bank — for money
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. mug — to rob
  11. bulb — for light
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bank — of a river
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. board — a committee
  17. key — in music
  18. board — to get on
  19. bank — for money
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. key — for a lock
  22. mug — a cup
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. mug — a face

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