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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: stick · stock · bear · bowl · spell · wound · patient · mark

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. spell — a short time
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. stock — shares
  8. bear — the animal
  9. spell — letters
  10. bear — the animal
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. stock — goods
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. wound — an injury
  17. wound — an injury
  18. spell — magic
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. mark — a trace
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. patient — a sick person

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