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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 ________________ went through the wall.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. object — to protest
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. net — after costs
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. net — for catching
  8. current — happening now
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. rest — a break
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. object — a thing
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. rest — what's left
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. current — electric
  17. net — in sport
  18. object — an aim
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. current — of water
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. wax — to grow
  24. rest — what's left

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