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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. pitch — completely
  3. rest — a break
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. suit — to fit
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. rest — what's left
  11. rest — what's left
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. current — electric
  14. net — in sport
  15. current — of water
  16. net — for catching
  17. net — after costs
  18. suit — in cards
  19. suit — clothes
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. current — happening now
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. patient — a sick person

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