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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.

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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: arm · snap · patient · leaves · spell · pit · key · pass

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. key — the most important part
  3. pit — a hole
  4. spell — letters
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. key — in music
  11. pit — in a race
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. spell — a short time
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. snap — to click
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. pass — a permit
  21. key — for a lock
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. spell — magic
  24. leaves — lets stay

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