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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: mine · toast · patient · mark · season · mouse · lash · scale

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. toast — bread
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. season — in sport
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. scale — in music
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. mark — a grade
  13. scale — size or range
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. mine — for digging
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. season — of the year
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. scale — for weighing

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