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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.

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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: spell · patient · dip · ruler · current · ground · rash · cue

  1. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. rash — a series
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. current — electric
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. dip — to sink
  9. cue — a hint
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. ground — a position
  12. cue — for pool
  13. current — of water
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. current — happening now
  16. spell — a short time
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. ground — crushed
  19. spell — letters
  20. cue — a signal
  21. rash — hasty
  22. ground — the earth
  23. spell — magic
  24. rash — on the skin

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