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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.

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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: patient · band · can · rush · temple · dip · mouse · calf

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. rush — hurry
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. can — a tin
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. band — a ring
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. can — to be able to
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. can — a tin
  23. band — a music group
  24. rush — a thrill

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