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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. sharp — clever
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. current — happening now
  5. bulb — for light
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. ball — a dance
  8. season — of the year
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. current — of water
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. current — electric
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. ball — a great time
  20. season — in sport
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. bulb — for light

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