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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: bass · can · patient · calf · toast · bowl · racket · leaves

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. can — to be able to
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. bass — the fish
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. bass — low music
  16. toast — bread
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. can — a tin
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. racket — for tennis

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