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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.

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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: scale · patient · bowl · bank · press · ball · rock · net

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. ball — a great time
  4. net — in sport
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. scale — in music
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. press — to push
  10. net — for catching
  11. press — newspapers
  12. rock — music
  13. net — after costs
  14. bank — for money
  15. bank — of a river
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. scale — size or range
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. bank — for money
  21. ball — a dance
  22. rock — a stone
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. press — a publisher

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