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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: dip · suit · patient · band · cabinet · bank · jam · land

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. land — a country
  3. bank — of a river
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. land — ground
  6. suit — to fit
  7. dip — to sink
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. band — a ring
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. bank — for money
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. bank — for money
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. land — to come down
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. band — a music group
  20. suit — in cards
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. suit — clothes
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. patient — a sick person

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