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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: cabinet · stand · pass · current · saw · patient · band · pop

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. saw — the tool
  4. pop — soda
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. pop — music
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. current — of water
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. current — electric
  11. band — a music group
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. saw — the tool
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. stand — to bear
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. pass — a permit
  18. band — a ring
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. current — happening now
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. pop — to visit

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