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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
468
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: mate · track · bass · toast · temple · bulb · bat · patient

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. bulb — for light
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. bass — low music
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. bat — the animal
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. bass — the fish
  12. toast — bread
  13. track — a song
  14. mate — to breed
  15. bat — in an idiom
  16. track — a path
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. bulb — for light
  19. track — to keep track
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. mate — a partner
  22. bat — for baseball
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. mate — a friend

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