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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 116 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
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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: patient · cap · racket · calf · leaves · bowl · saw · key

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  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. racket — for tennis
  2. key — in music
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. saw — the tool
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. cap — a hat
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. cap — a lid
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. key — the most important part
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. saw — the tool
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. cap — of ice
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. racket — a loud noise
  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