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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: hand · lash · suit · stem · patient · mate · stand · mark

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. mate — a partner
  3. mark — a grade
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. mate — a friend
  6. mate — to breed
  7. suit — in cards
  8. hand — in cards
  9. suit — to fit
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. stand — to bear
  12. hand — help
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. suit — clothes
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. mark — a trace
  22. stem — to come from
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. stem — a stem cell

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