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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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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 · foot · dip · stem · rest · calf · pop

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  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. calf — of the leg
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. pop — to visit
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. pop — music
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. foot — a measure
  13. rest — what's left
  14. pop — soda
  15. rest — a break
  16. dip — to sink
  17. rest — what's left
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. stem — to come from
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. club — a group
  22. club — for dancing
  23. club — for golf
  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