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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
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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: patient · bore · charge · safe · wax · field · craft · deal

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. field — for sport
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. bore — to drill
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. craft — boats
  12. craft — a skill
  13. field — a subject
  14. charge — in control
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. field — farmland
  17. bore — to tire
  18. wax — to grow
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. charge — a price
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. charge — electricity
  24. deal — to handle

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