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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: hide · nail · jam · patient · deal · bank · kick · mark

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. bank — of a river
  5. bank — for money
  6. kick — a thrill
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. deal — to handle
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. kick — with a leg
  18. mark — a trace
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. bank — for money
  21. kick — in football
  22. mark — a grade
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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