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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: lean · mouse · bore · patient · mark · sharp · hand · wax

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. hand — in cards
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. mark — a grade
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. bore — to drill
  8. lean — thin
  9. mark — a trace
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. wax — to grow
  13. sharp — clever
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. lean — to bend
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. hand — help
  24. bore — to tire

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