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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: stock · mouse · foot · patient · toast · stand · pop · cabinet

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. stock — goods
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. stock — shares
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. pop — to visit
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. stand — to bear
  15. foot — a measure
  16. pop — music
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. pop — soda
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. toast — bread
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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