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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.

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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: mug · stand · stick · trunk · deal · track · foot · patient

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. mug — a face
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. foot — a measure
  9. mug — to rob
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. track — a song
  14. deal — to handle
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. mug — a cup
  19. track — to keep track
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. track — a path
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. stand — to bear

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