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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 · leaves · perch · rest · sharp · wax · patient · safe

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. stock — shares
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. stock — goods
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. sharp — clever
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. rest — a break
  18. rest — what's left
  19. perch — the fish
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. rest — what's left
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. wax — to grow

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