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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: last · mug · straw · chip · patient · fine · current · fan

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. chip — to eat
  4. fine — high quality
  5. current — electric
  6. mug — to rob
  7. last — finally
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. current — happening now
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. straw — a straw man
  14. fine — all right
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. last — final
  17. last — to go on
  18. straw — dry grass
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. mug — a face
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. mug — a cup
  24. chip — for betting

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