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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: hide · firm · snap · patient · last · pop · mouse · bass

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. last — finally
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. pop — to visit
  6. pop — soda
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. firm — a company
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. firm — steady
  15. last — to go on
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. pop — music
  19. bass — low music
  20. bass — the fish
  21. snap — to click
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. firm — decided
  24. last — final

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