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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: jam · hide · patient · date · mark · fan · arm · season

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. mark — a trace
  10. season — in sport
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. season — of the year
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. mark — a grade
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. date — the fruit
  24. mark — to pay attention

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