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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: dip · content · patient · club · leaves · stem · stand · fan

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. dip — to sink
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. stand — to bear
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. stem — to come from
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. club — a group
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. content — the amount
  17. club — for golf
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. club — for dancing
  24. content — happy

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