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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 120 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. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. staff — employees
  4. cap — a hat
  5. cap — a lid
  6. staff — a stick
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. mug — a cup
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. mug — a face
  13. cue — a signal
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. mug — to rob
  18. band — a music group
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. cap — of ice
  21. band — a ring
  22. cue — for pool
  23. cue — a hint
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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