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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: patient · current · fan · firm · suit · rash · trunk · cabinet

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. suit — in cards
  7. rash — hasty
  8. rash — a series
  9. suit — clothes
  10. current — of water
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. suit — to fit
  13. current — happening now
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. firm — steady
  20. current — electric
  21. firm — a company
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. firm — decided
  24. trunk — of a tree

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