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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: leaves · perch · nail · patient · mouse · deal · racket · fan

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. perch — the fish
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. racket — a loud noise

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