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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: jam · key · scale · foot · deal · patient · fan · clip

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. scale — size or range
  7. key — in music
  8. clip — to cut
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. deal — to handle
  12. foot — a measure
  13. clip — a video
  14. key — for a lock
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. clip — for paper
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. key — the most important part
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. scale — in music

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