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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.

Make a worksheet

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: patient · game · hide · rush · wave · bank · key · rule

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  16. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. rule — a law
  5. key — in music
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. bank — for money
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. rush — hurry
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. bank — for money
  14. bank — of a river
  15. rule — to rule out
  16. rule — government
  17. game — a match
  18. key — for a lock
  19. game — wild animals
  20. key — the most important part
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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