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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: pop · perch · wave · patient · rest · roll · mouse · net

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. roll — a list
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. perch — the fish
  5. pop — soda
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. rest — what's left
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. net — in sport
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. pop — to visit
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. net — for catching
  16. roll — a cake
  17. net — after costs
  18. pop — music
  19. rest — a break
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. rest — what's left
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. mouse — for a computer

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