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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: rest · cabinet · jam · net · pitcher · safe · bat · patient

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. bat — in an idiom
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bat — for baseball
  6. net — in sport
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. rest — what's left
  9. rest — a break
  10. net — for catching
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. bat — the animal
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. net — after costs
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. rest — what's left
  24. pitcher — a jug

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