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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: sharp · cabinet · rush · staff · bay · perch · mug · patient

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. perch — the fish
  3. staff — a stick
  4. sharp — clever
  5. staff — employees
  6. mug — to rob
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. rush — hurry
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. mug — a face
  17. mug — a cup
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. staff — employees

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