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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.

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 · pit · saw · nail · charge · net · field · patient

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. field — for sport
  3. spell — letters
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. field — a subject
  7. net — after costs
  8. spell — magic
  9. pit — in a race
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. charge — electricity
  12. field — farmland
  13. saw — the tool
  14. charge — in control
  15. spell — a short time
  16. net — for catching
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. pit — a hole
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. net — in sport
  22. charge — a price
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. nail — on a finger

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