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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 116 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.

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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: firm · game · bowl · bear · ruler · pit · stock · patient

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. stock — shares
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. game — a match
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. firm — steady
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. bear — the animal
  15. pit — a hole
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. firm — a company
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. pit — in a race
  20. bear — the animal
  21. game — wild animals
  22. firm — decided
  23. stock — goods
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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