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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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: hand · can · nail · track · patient · ruler · fan · current

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. track — to keep track
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. can — to be able to
  7. current — electric
  8. current — of water
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. track — a song
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. hand — help
  13. hand — in cards
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. can — a tin
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. can — a tin
  19. track — a path
  20. current — happening now
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. nail — on a finger

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