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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: degree · prune · charge · calf · cabinet · nail · swing · patient

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. David sat on the ________________.
  14. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. degree — from a university
  7. prune — to trim
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. degree — temperature
  11. charge — a price
  12. charge — in control
  13. swing — to play on
  14. degree — an amount
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. swing — in golf
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. charge — electricity
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. prune — to trim

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