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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: stand · firm · ball · bank · patient · bass · racket · bore

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  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. bore — gave birth
  2. ball — a dance
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. stand — to bear
  6. bank — of a river
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. firm — steady
  10. bass — low music
  11. ball — a great time
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. bore — to drill
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. firm — decided
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. bass — the fish
  18. bore — to tire
  19. bank — for money
  20. firm — a company
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. bank — for money
  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