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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: cue · date · patient · pitch · march · calf · dip · pass

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. cue — a hint
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. pitch — completely
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. dip — to sink
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. cue — a signal
  12. march — the month
  13. march — the month
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. date — the fruit
  16. pass — a permit
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. cue — for pool
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. march — music

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