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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: wax · net · ball · mark · racket · patient · charge · mouse

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  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. mouse — the animal
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. wax — to grow
  8. net — after costs
  9. net — for catching
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. charge — electricity
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. mark — a grade
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. charge — in control
  18. mark — a trace
  19. charge — a price
  20. ball — a great time
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. net — in sport
  23. ball — a dance
  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