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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: can · bass · bay · bore · patient · mouse · mark · swing

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. bass — low music
  8. can — a tin
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. swing — in golf
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. can — a tin
  13. bore — to tire
  14. swing — music
  15. swing — to play on
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. bass — the fish
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. mark — a trace
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. bore — to drill
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mark — a grade

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