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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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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: dip · foot · jam · chip · ruler · squash · patient · rest

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. dip — to sink
  7. rest — what's left
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. foot — a measure
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. squash — to crush
  16. rest — a break
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. chip — for betting
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. squash — the sport
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. rest — what's left
  24. chip — to eat

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