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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: board · patient · deal · rock · rush · dip · season · stand

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  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 — a big deal
  2. rock — a stone
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rush — hurry
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. dip — to sink
  7. deal — to handle
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. board — to get on
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. board — a committee
  16. stand — to bear
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. season — of the year
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. season — in sport
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. dip — to dunk
  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