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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: patient · mark · key · foot · file · pitcher · toast · drill

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. mark — a grade
  6. file — a document
  7. drill — the tool
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. drill — a practice
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. mark — a trace
  13. key — in music
  14. foot — a measure
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. drill — army training
  18. toast — bread
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. file — a tool
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. key — the most important part
  23. key — for a lock
  24. pitcher — a jug

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