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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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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: stem · patient · cabinet · cue · bay · bear · can · foot

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. foot — a measure
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cue — a signal
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. can — a tin
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. bear — the animal
  16. cue — for pool
  17. stem — to come from
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cue — a hint
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. bear — the animal
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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