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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.

Make a worksheet

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: pop · rest · racket · dip · fan · roll · patient · cue

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. roll — a list
  3. cue — a hint
  4. dip — to sink
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. rest — what's left
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. roll — a cake
  13. pop — soda
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. pop — music
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. rest — what's left
  20. cue — a signal
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. pop — to visit
  23. cue — for pool
  24. rest — a break

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