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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: ball · net · pass · dip · mug · track · patient · saw

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. track — a path
  4. net — after costs
  5. ball — a dance
  6. saw — the tool
  7. track — a song
  8. track — to keep track
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. mug — a face
  11. ball — a great time
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. pass — a permit
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. dip — to sink
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. mug — to rob
  19. saw — the tool
  20. mug — a cup
  21. net — for catching
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. net — in sport
  24. dip — a sauce

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