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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
468
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: fall · bat · wax · patient · bulb · safe · bank · scale

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  21. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. bank — of a river
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. scale — in music
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. bank — for money
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. fall — to drop
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bulb — for light
  16. scale — size or range
  17. fall — the season
  18. bank — for money
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bat — the animal
  21. bat — for baseball
  22. wax — to grow
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. fall — to drop

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