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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: spell · fan · deal · charge · patient · hide · bowl · perch

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. spell — a short time
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. spell — magic
  8. spell — letters
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. charge — in control
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. deal — to handle
  16. charge — a price
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. charge — electricity
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. hide — to keep secret

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