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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: track · rush · deal · suit · cell · prune · rock · patient

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. He was locked up in a ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. cell — a phone
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. suit — in cards
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. rock — a stone
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. track — a path
  9. prune — to trim
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. suit — to fit
  15. rush — hurry
  16. suit — clothes
  17. track — a song
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. cell — in biology
  20. prune — to trim
  21. track — to keep track
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. cell — in a prison
  24. rock — music

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