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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: patient · current · bear · bulb · row · mate · arm · rock

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. row — a line
  5. rock — music
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. current — of water
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bear — the animal
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. current — happening now
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. mate — a friend
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. row — to paddle
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bear — the animal
  22. current — electric
  23. mate — to breed
  24. mate — a partner

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