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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: stem · nail · face · sharp · band · lean · safe · patient

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. face — to confront
  6. sharp — clever
  7. lean — to bend
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. band — a ring
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. face — part of the head
  17. face — to point toward
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. stem — to come from
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. lean — thin
  23. band — a music group
  24. safe — out of danger

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