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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: patient · pit · net · pass · cabinet · season · bass · foot

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. net — for catching
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. foot — a measure
  7. bass — the fish
  8. season — in sport
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. net — in sport
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. bass — low music
  14. pit — a hole
  15. season — of the year
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. pit — in a race
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. net — after costs
  24. pass — to spend time

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