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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: toast · date · foot · chip · bulb · bear · sharp · patient

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. bulb — for light
  4. sharp — clever
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. foot — a measure
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. chip — to eat
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. toast — bread
  16. chip — for betting
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. bear — the animal
  19. date — the fruit
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. bulb — for light
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. chip — in a computer

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