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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: track · patient · leaves · drill · squash · kid · mark · wake

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. drill — the tool
  5. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. mark — a grade
  9. drill — army training
  10. mark — a trace
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. kid — child
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. track — a path
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. squash — the sport
  19. kid — to tease
  20. track — to keep track
  21. track — a song
  22. squash — to crush
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. drill — a practice

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