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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.

Make a worksheet

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: pit · patient · snap · fan · bass · charge · net · mouse

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bass — the fish
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. snap — to click
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. charge — in control
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. pit — in a race
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. net — for catching
  16. net — after costs
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. bass — low music
  19. net — in sport
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. charge — a price
  22. pit — a hole
  23. charge — electricity
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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