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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: season · press · patient · rash · object · mark · key · rush

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. season — in sport
  3. object — a thing
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. press — a publisher
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. object — to protest
  8. press — to push
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. rash — hasty
  11. press — newspapers
  12. season — of the year
  13. rush — hurry
  14. object — an aim
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. key — in music
  17. mark — a trace
  18. key — for a lock
  19. rash — a series
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. key — the most important part
  24. mark — a grade

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