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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
468
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: file · dip · patient · stem · cabinet · coach · squash · nail

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. file — a line of people
  8. squash — the sport
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. stem — to come from
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. dip — to sink
  18. squash — to crush
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. file — a document
  22. file — a tool
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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