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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: bulb · present · patient · cabinet · toast · wave · net · trunk

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. bulb — for light
  3. present — the time now
  4. toast — bread
  5. bulb — for light
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. present — a gift
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. net — for catching
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. net — after costs
  15. present — there
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. net — in sport
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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