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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: jam · patient · fork · mate · cell · pass · stem · drill

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. drill — the tool
  5. cell — a phone
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. stem — to come from
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. drill — a practice
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. fork — in a road
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. mate — a friend
  16. mate — a partner
  17. cell — in biology
  18. drill — army training
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. pass — a permit
  21. mate — to breed
  22. fork — a garden tool
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. stem — a stem cell

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