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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: patient · present · foot · tube · mug · toast · stock · march

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. mug — a face
  4. stock — shares
  5. present — a gift
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. tube — a container
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. tube — the underground
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. mug — a cup
  12. march — music
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. present — the time now
  15. stock — goods
  16. foot — a measure
  17. present — there
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. mug — to rob
  20. toast — bread
  21. march — the month
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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