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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: suit · arm · deal · patient · lie · mouse · net · pop

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. net — in sport
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. suit — to fit
  5. net — after costs
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. suit — in cards
  8. deal — to handle
  9. pop — to visit
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. pop — music
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. lie — to recline
  14. suit — clothes
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. pop — soda
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. net — for catching
  24. mouse — for a computer

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