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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: plane · toast · row · pitch · mug · wax · rest · patient

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. mug — a face
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. rest — a break
  6. row — a line
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. rest — what's left
  11. row — to paddle
  12. mug — a cup
  13. pitch — completely
  14. rest — what's left
  15. wax — to grow
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. toast — bread
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. mug — to rob
  23. plane — a tool
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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