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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: mouse · current · season · patient · track · rock · bay · calf

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. track — a path
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. rock — a stone
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. rock — music
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. current — electric
  9. track — a song
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. season — of the year
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. current — happening now
  14. season — in sport
  15. current — of water
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. track — to keep track
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. calf — a young animal

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