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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.

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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: bound · leaves · season · cap · net · nail · patient · wave

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. season — in sport
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. bound — certain
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. cap — a lid
  11. cap — a hat
  12. bound — obliged
  13. bound — tied together
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. net — in sport
  17. cap — of ice
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. net — for catching
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. season — of the year

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