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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 116 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 farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. clip — for paper
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. deal — to handle
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. clip — a video
  12. bass — low music
  13. staff — a stick
  14. bass — the fish
  15. can — a tin
  16. pass — a permit
  17. clip — to cut
  18. can — to be able to
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. staff — employees
  21. can — a tin
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. fan — a supporter

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