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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: cabinet · toast · current · file · hide · patient · stock · pop

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. file — a line of people
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. current — of water
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. stock — shares
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. pop — to visit
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. file — a tool
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. toast — bread
  16. current — electric
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. stock — goods
  19. current — happening now
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. pop — music
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. pop — soda
  24. file — a document

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