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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 · leaves · cap · suit · can · game · track · mouse

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. game — wild animals
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. track — a song
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. suit — clothes
  8. game — a match
  9. cap — a lid
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — a tin
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. suit — in cards
  17. can — to be able to
  18. cap — of ice
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. suit — to fit
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. cap — a hat
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. track — a path

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