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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.

Make a worksheet

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. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. charge — electricity
  5. toast — bread
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. roll — a list
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. roll — a cake
  12. charge — a price
  13. ball — a great time
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. ball — a dance
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. craft — boats
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. season — in sport
  21. season — of the year
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. charge — in control
  24. toast — the most admired

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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