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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: mouse · stem · date · nail · deal · patient · rest · scale

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. date — the fruit
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. scale — in music
  15. rest — what's left
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. rest — a break
  18. stem — to come from
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. deal — to handle
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. scale — size or range
  23. rest — what's left
  24. stem — of a plant

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