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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: fine · patient · rash · mug · mouse · temple · pitcher · drill

  1. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. drill — a practice
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. drill — the tool
  11. rash — a series
  12. fine — all right
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. mug — a cup
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. mug — to rob
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. mug — a face
  22. fine — high quality
  23. rash — hasty
  24. drill — army training

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