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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.

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: chair · deal · hand · rock · toast · jam · can · patient

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. hand — in cards
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. rock — music
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. hand — help
  9. rock — a stone
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. can — a tin
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. toast — bread
  17. chair — a leader
  18. can — a tin
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. chair — to sit on
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. deal — to handle
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. can — to be able to

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