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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 120 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
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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: snap · cue · can · pop · patient · foot · content · cabinet

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. cue — a hint
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. can — a tin
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. pop — soda
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. foot — a measure
  11. pop — to visit
  12. snap — to click
  13. content — happy
  14. pop — music
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. can — a tin
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. content — the amount
  20. can — to be able to
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. cue — for pool
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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