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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: mark · roll · hide · patient · bank · trunk · mate · nail

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. mark — a trace
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mate — a friend
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. bank — of a river
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. roll — a cake
  16. mate — a partner
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. mark — a grade
  19. roll — a list
  20. mate — to breed
  21. bank — for money
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. bank — for money
  24. trunk — of a tree

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