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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: leaves · cabinet · drill · craft · patient · scale · bore · stock

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. scale — in music
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. craft — boats
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. bore — to drill
  9. drill — a practice
  10. stock — shares
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. drill — army training
  19. stock — goods
  20. scale — size or range
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. drill — the tool
  23. bore — to tire
  24. craft — a skill

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