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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. bass — low music
  5. stock — goods
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. stem — to come from
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. foot — a measure
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. rock — music
  16. rock — a stone
  17. bass — the fish
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. stock — shares
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. leaves — of a tree

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