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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: safe · rash · stock · deal · squash · patient · ruler · band

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. squash — the sport
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. band — a ring
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. band — a music group
  10. stock — shares
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. deal — to handle
  14. rash — hasty
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. rash — a series
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. stock — goods
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. squash — to crush
  24. deal — an agreement

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