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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 116 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: mark · patient · mate · mug · current · game · dip · rash

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. dip — to sink
  3. current — of water
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. current — happening now
  6. mark — a trace
  7. mug — a face
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. mug — a cup
  10. mate — a partner
  11. current — electric
  12. mug — to rob
  13. mark — a grade
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. mate — to breed
  17. game — wild animals
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. rash — hasty
  20. mate — a friend
  21. rash — a series
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. mark — to pay attention

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