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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: track · leaves · lie · patient · bass · net · mug · vault

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. mug — a cup
  3. mug — a face
  4. track — to keep track
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. vault — a safe
  7. lie — to recline
  8. track — a song
  9. bass — the fish
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. net — for catching
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. mug — to rob
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. bass — low music
  17. net — in sport
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. net — after costs
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. track — a path
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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