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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. track — a song
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. mug — a face
  5. track — to keep track
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. mug — a cup
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. firm — steady
  11. track — a path
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. mug — to rob
  16. firm — decided
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. pass — a permit
  20. stem — to come from
  21. firm — a company
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. wave — of the sea

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