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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: tube · spell · track · stand · stem · patient · cabinet · ball

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. stand — to bear
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. track — a path
  7. spell — a short time
  8. track — a song
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. ball — a great time
  13. tube — the underground
  14. spell — magic
  15. spell — letters
  16. track — to keep track
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. tube — a container
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. ball — a dance
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. stem — to come from

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