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

Word bank: saw · bore · nail · patient · bulb · suit · perch · stock

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. bore — to drill
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bore — to tire
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. suit — to fit
  13. stock — goods
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. saw — the tool
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — for light
  18. suit — clothes
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. stock — shares
  23. perch — the fish
  24. suit — in cards

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