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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
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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: foot · field · charge · key · patient · season · mate · mug

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. mate — to breed
  5. key — for a lock
  6. season — of the year
  7. foot — a measure
  8. mate — a partner
  9. key — the most important part
  10. charge — electricity
  11. charge — in control
  12. mug — to rob
  13. field — a subject
  14. mate — a friend
  15. mug — a cup
  16. field — farmland
  17. charge — a price
  18. field — for sport
  19. key — in music
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. mug — a face
  24. season — in sport

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