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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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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 · patient · rock · cue · dip · season · cabinet · can

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. staff — employees
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. staff — employees
  8. can — a tin
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. season — of the year
  11. dip — to sink
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. staff — a stick
  17. season — in sport
  18. cue — a signal
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. cue — for pool
  23. rock — a stone
  24. cue — a hint

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