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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: deal · patient · toast · charge · bulb · firm · nail · cabinet

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  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. toast — bread
  2. firm — a company
  3. charge — electricity
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. firm — steady
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. charge — in control
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. bulb — for light
  15. deal — to handle
  16. firm — decided
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. bulb — for light
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. charge — a price
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  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