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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: mouse · spell · lash · net · stand · patient · coach · calf

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. net — in sport
  6. net — after costs
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. net — for catching
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. spell — letters
  13. spell — a short time
  14. stand — to bear
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. spell — magic
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. lash — an eyelash

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