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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: stock · cue · mine · ruler · fan · pit · can · patient

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. can — a tin
  3. stock — shares
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. cue — a signal
  6. can — a tin
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. can — to be able to
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. cue — a hint
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. mine — for digging
  14. pit — a hole
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. pit — in a race
  20. cue — for pool
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. stock — goods
  24. mine — an explosive

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