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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 120 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: pass · cabinet · mark · spell · tube · patient · club · fine

  1. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for golf
  2. tube — a container
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. mark — a trace
  6. spell — a short time
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. mark — a grade
  9. fine — all right
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. club — a group
  13. spell — letters
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. club — for dancing
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. tube — the underground
  19. pass — a permit
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. spell — magic
  22. fine — high quality
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. pass — to succeed

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