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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: dip · can · jam · vault · rash · patient · stand · staff

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. staff — employees
  3. vault — a safe
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. stand — to bear
  8. rash — hasty
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. staff — a stick
  13. can — a tin
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. can — to be able to
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. can — a tin
  23. rash — a series
  24. staff — employees

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