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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 116 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: current · leaves · bay · court · pound · staff · patient · chip

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The ball is in your ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  13. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. court — for sport
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. chip — for betting
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. current — happening now
  8. current — of water
  9. court — of a king
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. court — of law
  12. pound — for dogs
  13. pound — to hit hard
  14. staff — employees
  15. chip — to eat
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. pound — a weight
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. staff — employees
  23. staff — a stick
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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