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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 120 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: pitch · pass · cabinet · coach · pit · patient · hand · cap

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. pitch — completely
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. cap — a lid
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. pass — a permit
  10. cap — a hat
  11. pit — a hole
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. pit — in a race
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. hand — in cards
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. cap — of ice
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. hand — help
  24. hand — part of the body

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