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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 nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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. suit — to fit
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. net — for catching
  6. bear — the animal
  7. can — a tin
  8. suit — in cards
  9. net — in sport
  10. staff — employees
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. net — after costs
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. chip — for betting
  15. suit — clothes
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. chip — to eat
  18. can — to be able to
  19. can — a tin
  20. staff — a stick
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. bear — the animal

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