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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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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: dip · current · rush · jam · patient · saw · cue · pass

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. current — happening now
  3. cue — for pool
  4. saw — the tool
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. rush — hurry
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. current — of water
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. saw — the tool
  13. cue — a hint
  14. current — electric
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. cue — a signal
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. dip — to sink
  24. pass — a permit

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