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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 120 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
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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: trunk · stick · mouse · pop · patient · land · ball · fine

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. fine — all right
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. ball — a dance
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. fine — high quality
  11. ball — a great time
  12. land — to come down
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. land — a country
  17. pop — music
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. pop — to visit
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. land — ground
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. pop — soda

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