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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.

Make a worksheet

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: straw · bay · patient · leaves · net · season · charge · mouse

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. season — in sport
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. season — of the year
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. net — after costs
  9. charge — in control
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. charge — electricity
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. net — for catching
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. charge — a price
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. leaves — to go away

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