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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: patient · mate · toast · rock · mouse · bulb · last · stem

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. last — final
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. last — finally
  7. bulb — for light
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. stem — to come from
  10. mate — to breed
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. last — to go on
  15. bulb — for light
  16. mate — a partner
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. mate — a friend
  23. rock — music
  24. toast — bread

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