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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: sharp · bass · patient · mug · branch · game · bulb · bowl

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. mug — a cup
  5. game — a match
  6. bulb — for light
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. mug — a face
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. branch — a division
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. bass — the fish
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. bulb — for light
  16. mug — to rob
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. bass — low music
  19. game — wild animals
  20. sharp — clever
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bowl — a dish

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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