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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
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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: patient · mouse · spell · bulb · nail · bay · net · squash

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. net — for catching
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. spell — letters
  12. spell — a short time
  13. squash — the sport
  14. bulb — for light
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. net — after costs
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. net — in sport
  19. spell — magic
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. squash — to crush

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