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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.

Make a worksheet

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: safe · bat · staff · sharp · patient · field · key · bay

  1. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. field — farmland
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. key — in music
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. staff — employees
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bat — in an idiom
  15. staff — employees
  16. key — the most important part
  17. sharp — clever
  18. field — for sport
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bat — the animal
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. staff — a stick
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. key — for a lock

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