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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: patient · rest · hand · rock · board · toast · key · chip

  1. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — a break
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. rock — a stone
  4. key — for a lock
  5. hand — help
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. chip — to eat
  11. board — a committee
  12. toast — bread
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. rock — music
  16. board — to get on
  17. rest — what's left
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. key — in music
  20. hand — in cards
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. key — the most important part
  23. chip — for betting
  24. rest — what's left

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