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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: bass · patient · ball · calf · rash · vault · stock · craft

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. stock — goods
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. rash — hasty
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. bass — the fish
  9. ball — a great time
  10. vault — a safe
  11. ball — a dance
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. bass — low music
  18. stock — shares
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. rash — a series
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. craft — a skill
  24. craft — boats

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