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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.

Make a worksheet

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: suit · bear · patient · root · ball · bay · current · dip

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. current — happening now
  5. current — of water
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. root — of a plant
  8. root — of a word
  9. suit — in cards
  10. current — electric
  11. dip — to sink
  12. bear — the animal
  13. suit — clothes
  14. bear — the animal
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. root — the cause
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. ball — a dance
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. ball — a great time

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