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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: patient · mate · hand · ruler · pitch · suit · club · cue

  1. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. mate — a partner
  6. suit — clothes
  7. cue — a hint
  8. cue — for pool
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. cue — a signal
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. club — for dancing
  15. mate — to breed
  16. pitch — completely
  17. suit — in cards
  18. suit — to fit
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. hand — in cards
  22. club — for golf
  23. mate — a friend
  24. club — a group

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