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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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. roll — a cake
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. ball — a dance
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. net — after costs
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. current — happening now
  11. wake — a trail
  12. net — for catching
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. current — of water
  15. suit — to fit
  16. current — electric
  17. roll — a list
  18. suit — clothes
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. suit — in cards
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. net — in sport
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. ball — a great time

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