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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: stand · foot · fine · chip · cue · patient · jam · vault

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. cue — a hint
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. foot — a measure
  8. stand — to bear
  9. chip — to eat
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. chip — for betting
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. fine — all right
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. vault — a safe
  18. cue — for pool
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. cue — a signal
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. fine — high quality

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