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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.

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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: fan · staff · press · game · patient · deal · suit · band

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. staff — a stick
  3. suit — to fit
  4. staff — employees
  5. suit — clothes
  6. press — a publisher
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. deal — to handle
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. band — a music group
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. press — to push
  15. game — wild animals
  16. game — a match
  17. staff — employees
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. suit — in cards
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. press — newspapers
  23. band — a ring
  24. fan — a supporter

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