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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: patient · club · stem · safe · bore · can · dip · key

  1. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. bore — to tire
  3. can — to be able to
  4. bore — to drill
  5. stem — to come from
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. key — the most important part
  8. club — for golf
  9. key — in music
  10. can — a tin
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. can — a tin
  15. key — for a lock
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. club — a group
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. dip — to sink
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. club — for dancing
  24. stem — of a plant

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