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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.

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: cue · cabinet · fan · patient · pit · spring · perch · bulb

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. pit — a hole
  5. perch — the fish
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. spring — the season
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. cue — a hint
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. spring — of water
  15. cue — for pool
  16. bulb — for light
  17. cue — a signal
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. spring — a coil
  21. bulb — for light
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. fan — to cool the air

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