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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. dip — to sink
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. hand — in cards
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. staff — employees
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. hand — help
  12. chip — to eat
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. chip — for betting
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. staff — a stick

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