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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: present · rush · spell · nail · patient · sharp · stand · court

  1. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. present — the time now
  5. spell — letters
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. court — of law
  8. spell — magic
  9. sharp — clever
  10. court — for sport
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. present — a gift
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. spell — a short time
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. rush — hurry
  21. court — of a king
  22. stand — to bear
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. sharp — with an edge

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