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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 116 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. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. object — an aim
  4. net — after costs
  5. can — to be able to
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. rock — music
  8. object — to protest
  9. net — for catching
  10. current — happening now
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. rock — a stone
  13. can — a tin
  14. net — in sport
  15. object — a thing
  16. current — of water
  17. season — of the year
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. craft — a skill
  20. current — electric
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. craft — boats
  23. season — in sport
  24. can — a tin

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