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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.

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: cabinet · pit · mouse · root · can · stand · patient · rash

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. pit — a hole
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. root — of a word
  5. pit — in a race
  6. root — of a plant
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. rash — a series
  9. stand — to bear
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. root — the cause
  14. can — to be able to
  15. can — a tin
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. rash — hasty
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. can — a tin
  24. stand — on your feet

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