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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.

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: fine · patient · fan · calf · bowl · current · bass · ball

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. bass — the fish
  3. fine — high quality
  4. current — electric
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. bass — low music
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. ball — a great time
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. current — happening now
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. ball — a dance
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. current — of water
  24. fine — all right

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