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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 120 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. charge — electricity
  8. rush — hurry
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. stem — to come from
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. charge — a price
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. charge — in control
  24. safe — out of danger

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