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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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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. bank — of a river
  9. bound — obliged
  10. bank — for money
  11. bound — certain
  12. vault — a safe
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. sharp — clever
  17. bound — tied together
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. bank — for money

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