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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: sharp · suit · rock · calf · bear · mark · patient · bulb

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  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. bear — the animal
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. suit — in cards
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. sharp — clever
  10. rock — a stone
  11. rock — music
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. mark — a grade
  14. suit — to fit
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bear — the animal
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. bulb — for light
  19. suit — clothes
  20. bulb — for light
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. mark — a trace
  23. bear — to put up with
  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