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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 116 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: pound · mate · patient · bay · fan · dip · pitcher · calf

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. pound — to hit hard
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. dip — to sink
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. mate — a friend
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. mate — to breed
  21. pound — a weight
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. mate — a partner
  24. bay — a horse colour

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