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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.

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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: track · current · deal · saw · dip · mouse · fan · patient

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. track — a song
  5. saw — the tool
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. dip — to sink
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. saw — the tool
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. track — to keep track
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. current — of water
  18. current — happening now
  19. track — a path
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. deal — to handle
  22. current — electric
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. mouse — the animal

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