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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: patient · fine · lean · can · ruler · degree · cue · mine

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. can — to be able to
  3. cue — a hint
  4. degree — temperature
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. can — a tin
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. degree — from a university
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. lean — to bend
  13. fine — high quality
  14. degree — an amount
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. cue — for pool
  17. can — a tin
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. mine — for digging
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. lean — thin
  23. fine — all right
  24. cue — a signal

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