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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: staff · ruler · cap · mate · coach · leaves · patient · can

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. mate — a friend
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. mate — to breed
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. staff — employees
  8. can — to be able to
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. can — a tin
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. can — a tin
  15. cap — a hat
  16. cap — a lid
  17. staff — a stick
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. mate — a partner
  21. staff — employees
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. cap — of ice
  24. leaves — of a tree

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