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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 120 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: tube · bulb · patient · object · foot · stock · bore · mug

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. object — a thing
  3. mug — a face
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. tube — a container
  6. foot — a measure
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. bore — to drill
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. stock — goods
  15. object — an aim
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. bulb — for light
  18. stock — shares
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. bulb — for light
  21. mug — a cup
  22. mug — to rob
  23. object — to protest
  24. tube — the underground

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