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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
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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: content · cabinet · firm · patient · can · branch · current · rush

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. current — happening now
  3. firm — decided
  4. current — of water
  5. content — happy
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. content — the amount
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. firm — steady
  10. firm — a company
  11. can — a tin
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. can — a tin
  15. branch — a division
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. rush — hurry
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. content — videos and posts
  24. can — to be able to

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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