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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.

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: jam · suit · stock · patient · bay · plane · straw · cue

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. suit — to fit
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. suit — clothes
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. stock — shares
  7. suit — in cards
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. cue — a signal
  14. cue — a hint
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. straw — to clutch at straws
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. plane — a tool
  23. cue — for pool
  24. stock — goods

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