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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.

Make a worksheet

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: patient · chair · staff · fan · foot · rash · net · bay

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. chair — a professorship
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. chair — a leader
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. rash — hasty
  10. staff — employees
  11. staff — employees
  12. net — for catching
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. net — in sport
  17. foot — a measure
  18. chair — to sit on
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. net — after costs
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. staff — a stick
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. patient — a sick person

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