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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.

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: key · foot · can · ruler · patient · ball · lash · pass

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. can — a tin
  3. key — in music
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. ball — a dance
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. can — a tin
  14. key — for a lock
  15. pass — a permit
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. can — to be able to
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. key — the most important part
  21. ball — a great time
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. pass — to spend time

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