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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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. bore — to drill
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. rush — hurry
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. mate — a partner
  17. bore — to tire
  18. mate — a friend
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. mate — to breed
  24. fan — a supporter

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