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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 116 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 nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  14. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. saw — the tool
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. board — a committee
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. saw — the tool
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. cue — for pool
  13. bat — for baseball
  14. bat — in an idiom
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. plane — a tool
  18. branch — a division
  19. board — to get on
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bat — the animal
  22. cue — a hint
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. cue — a signal

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