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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: straw · suit · patient · can · bore · object · season · chip

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. object — to protest
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. can — a tin
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. object — an aim
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. can — a tin
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. bore — to drill
  13. season — of the year
  14. suit — to fit
  15. bore — to tire
  16. object — a thing
  17. chip — to eat
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. chip — for betting
  20. season — in sport
  21. can — to be able to
  22. suit — clothes
  23. suit — in cards
  24. straw — to clutch at straws

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