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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: foot · calf · cue · key · scale · object · patient · fan

  1. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. cue — a hint
  8. scale — in music
  9. key — in music
  10. cue — a signal
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. object — an aim
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. cue — for pool
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. scale — size or range
  18. object — to protest
  19. key — the most important part
  20. object — a thing
  21. key — for a lock
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. foot — a measure
  24. foot — part of the body

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