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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: present · leaves · staff · spring · roll · mark · plane · patient

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. present — there
  7. spring — of water
  8. mark — a grade
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. present — the time now
  11. roll — a cake
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. spring — the season
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. mark — a trace
  17. present — a gift
  18. roll — a list
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. plane — a tool
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. staff — a stick
  23. staff — employees
  24. spring — a coil

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