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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.

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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: patient · stick · object · track · trunk · foot · tube · firm

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. track — a path
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. firm — steady
  5. tube — a container
  6. track — to keep track
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. object — a thing
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. object — an aim
  13. track — a song
  14. foot — a measure
  15. object — to protest
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. tube — the underground
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. firm — decided
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. firm — a company

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