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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: staff · pit · spell · patient · nail · cap · deal · cue

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. cap — a lid
  3. staff — employees
  4. pit — in a race
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. cap — of ice
  8. spell — letters
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. spell — magic
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. cue — a signal
  13. deal — to handle
  14. staff — employees
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. cue — a hint
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. staff — a stick
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. cue — for pool
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. cap — a hat
  24. pit — a hole

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