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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 116 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.

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: staff · board · stand · patient · hand · current · root · fork

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. board — to get on
  3. root — the cause
  4. staff — employees
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. hand — in cards
  7. stand — to bear
  8. board — a committee
  9. current — electric
  10. hand — help
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. root — of a word
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. staff — a stick
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. staff — employees
  18. fork — in a road
  19. current — of water
  20. current — happening now
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. root — of a plant

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