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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: season · plane · cabinet · root · patient · sharp · game · stand

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. root — the cause
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. season — in sport
  8. game — a match
  9. stand — to bear
  10. game — wild animals
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. season — of the year
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. sharp — clever
  19. plane — a tool
  20. root — of a plant
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. root — of a word

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