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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 116 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: rush · pass · firm · bear · dip · patient · can · wind

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  15. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. firm — steady
  3. can — a tin
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. wind — moving air
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. firm — decided
  13. firm — a company
  14. wind — to turn a key
  15. wind — moving air
  16. can — a tin
  17. pass — a permit
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bear — the animal
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. can — to be able to
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. bear — the animal

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