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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: can · patient · chip · staff · craft · fall · nail · mark

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. staff — a stick
  6. chip — to eat
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. craft — a skill
  9. can — a tin
  10. fall — to drop
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. mark — a trace
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. can — to be able to
  16. fall — the season
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. fall — to drop
  19. staff — employees
  20. mark — a grade
  21. craft — boats
  22. can — a tin
  23. staff — employees
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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