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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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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: calf · pit · patient · bank · drill · racket · cue · bass

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. pit — a hole
  3. bass — low music
  4. drill — a practice
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. drill — army training
  8. bank — of a river
  9. cue — for pool
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. bank — for money
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. cue — a hint
  14. cue — a signal
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. bass — the fish
  17. drill — the tool
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. pit — in a race
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. patient — a sick person

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