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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 · season · ground · net · mouse · staff · pitcher · rush

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. net — for catching
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. net — in sport
  5. ground — crushed
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. season — in sport
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. season — of the year
  10. staff — a stick
  11. staff — employees
  12. ground — the earth
  13. rush — hurry
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. ground — a position
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. staff — employees
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. net — after costs
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. rush — to hurry

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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