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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.

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: ruler · fine · pitch · chip · current · patient · tube · nail

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. current — happening now
  6. current — of water
  7. chip — to eat
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. pitch — completely
  14. tube — the underground
  15. fine — all right
  16. tube — a container
  17. fine — high quality
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. chip — for betting
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. nail — on a finger

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