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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: mouse · cell · foot · patient · staff · mark · toast · tube

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. staff — a stick
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. cell — a phone
  8. staff — employees
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mark — a trace
  11. mark — a grade
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. staff — employees
  14. tube — the underground
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. tube — a container
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. cell — in biology
  21. foot — a measure
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. tube — in a tire

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