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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: rash · cabinet · toast · patient · row · board · prune · nail

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. rash — a series
  3. row — to paddle
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. toast — bread
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. prune — to trim
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. prune — to trim
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. row — a line
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. board — to get on
  21. rash — hasty
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. board — a committee
  24. patient — a sick person

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