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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.

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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: nail · mouse · row · rush · deal · cap · patient · mate

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. cap — of ice
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. mate — a partner
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. row — a line
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. row — to paddle
  13. cap — a hat
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. cap — a lid
  16. deal — to handle
  17. mate — a friend
  18. rush — hurry
  19. mate — to breed
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. deal — an agreement

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