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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
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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: pop · calf · toast · dip · mate · arm · pitcher · patient

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. toast — bread
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. mate — a partner
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. pop — music
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. mate — a friend
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. pop — soda
  17. dip — to sink
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. pop — to visit
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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