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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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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: fan · nail · mate · root · swing · ball · patient · can

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. mate — a friend
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. root — the cause
  6. ball — a great time
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. swing — in golf
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. can — to be able to
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. swing — music
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. swing — to play on
  17. root — of a plant
  18. mate — to breed
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. ball — a dance
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. mate — a partner

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