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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. charge — in control
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. rock — music
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. foot — a measure
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. can — a tin
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. rock — a stone
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. charge — electricity
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. charge — a price
  19. can — a tin
  20. branch — a division
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. can — to be able to
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bulb — for light

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